RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM

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RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/22/2005 8:31:58 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-1-43

SEAC:

Poor weather prevented 200+ bombers from flying from Chandpur so Pagan got off lightly. 8 Spitfires and 15 Beaufort I out of Akyab hit Pagan and scored 1 resource hit with no losses.

48 P-40B, 72 B-25J, 31 Beaufort V-IX, 16 Beaufort I, 16 Blenheim IV, 16 Vengeance, 9 Liberator VI, and 25 Beaufighter Mk21 from Akyab work over Rangoon airfield, port and city resources:

4 Hickory destroyed

AP 1 Bomb on fire
AP 1 Bomb on fire
AP 1 Bomb
SS-I56 1 Bomb on fire
AP 1 Bomb

390 casualties

Resources 5 hits
Airbase 9 hits
Airbase supply 6 hits
Runway 28 hits
Port 2 hits
Port fuel 3 hits.

No Allied losses. Rangoon airfield at 32% damage.

40 P-40B, 21 Beaufort V-IX from Akyab find a transport TF near Rangoon:

AP 1 Bomb, on fire
AP 2 Bomb on fire

No Allied losses.

SWPAC:

91 P-38G, 83 B-24D, 53 B-17E, and 12 PBY4 Liberator from Koepang bomb Kendari airfield and port:

50+ Tony, Betty, A6M3a, Val, Topsy, Dinah and Jakes destroyed

AP 1 Bomb on fire
AK 1 Bomb
AP 1 Bomb
AK 1 Bomb on fire
PC 1 Bomb on fire

86 casualties

Airbase 10 hits
Airbase supply 9 hits
Runway 73 hits
Port 1 hit

No Allied losses. Airfield damage 45%.

24 P-38G, 16 Corsair(1st time in combat), 52 B-25J, 48 B-25C, 27 A-20G, and 18 B-26B from Kai Is. dogfight 18 A6M3a CAP over Amboina and bomb the airfield:

20+ A6M3a destoyed

163 casualties

Airbase 14 hits
Airbase supply 1 hit
Runway 93 hits

Allies lose 3 P-38G. Airfield damage 31%.

48 P-38G and 62 B-25J from Thursday Is. encounter CAP of 18 Oscar II and 9 A6M3a over Lae before bombing the airfield:

20+ OscarII and A6M3a destroyed

Airbase 10 hits
Airbase supply 3 hits
Runway 35 hits

Allies lose 1 B-25J. Airfield damage 22%.

55 PB4Y Liberator from Cooktown bomb Port Moresby port:

9 AGs are sunk. Aliies suffer no damage.

5 Kittyhawk, 50 Beaufort V-IX, 42 Beaufighter Mk21, 10 Barracuda, and 3 Vengeance from Babo spot a Japanese transport TF at Biak Is.:

AP 3 Bombs on fire
AP 2 Torps on fire heavy damage
PG 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage
MSW 2 Torps on fire heavy damage
AP 1 Bomb, 1 Torp on fire
AP 7 Bomb, 1 Torp on fire heavy damage
AP 1 Bomb
AP 1 Bomb, 4 Torp on fire heavy damage

614 casualties

6 Beaufighter Mk21 and 4 B-24D from Kai Is. find transport TF at Biak:

AP 1 Bomb on fire

3 Beaufighter Mk21 from Babo find transport TF off Buru but all miss.

3 Kittyhawk, 3 Beaufighter Mk21, and 9 Beaufort V-IX from Babo stirke a transport TF at Sorong:

MSW 2 Bombs on fire heavy damage

3 PB4Y Liberator from Koepang find transport TF near Kendari:

AP 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage

7 Kittyhawks, 46 Beaufighter Mk21, 29 Beaufort V-IX, 12 Vengeance and 10 Barracudas again strike the transport TF at Biak:

AP 8 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 2 Bombs , 2 Torps on fire heavy damage
AP 4 Bombs, 3 Toprs on fire heavy damage
PG 4 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 1 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 1 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 2 Bomb, 3 Torp on fire heavy damage
AP 2 Bomb on fire heavy damage

765 casualties

SOPAC:

45 P-38G from Kusaie and Majuro do a high altitude sweep over Kwajalein but encounter no opposition. 24 P-38G, 210 B-17E, 102 B-25C, 32 B-25J, 24 PB4Y Liberator, and 21 B-26B from Majuro bomb Kwajalein port:

AP 15 bombs on fire heavy damage

452 casualties

Port 23 hits
Port fuel 9 hits
Port supply 11 hits.

No Allied losses. Port 40% damaged.

Allied Intel underestimated the Japanese are strenth at Ponape and the attacks went in piecemeal. First, 23 P-38G from Eniwetok do a fighter sweep against CAP of 24 A6M3a. 7 P-38G are killed with no Japanese losses. Then 18 TBF from Kusaie bomb Ponape losing 4 planes and causing no damage. Finally, 16 B-25C from Eniwetok hit Ponape losing 1 plane and scoring:

Airbase 1 hit
Runway 2 hits

The USN CV TF covering the buildup operation on Rennel Is. spots a transport TF at Tulagi. 8 TBF and 24 SBD are launched:

AK 10 bombs on fire heavy damage

1 AK, 2 MSW and 9 AG sink by the end of the day. The Allies flew 5992 sorties vs 1547 Japanese sorties. The Allies lost 30 planes(11 were operational) to 148 Japanese planes. Losses by plane type were:

Japanese: 32 A6M3a, 17 Oscar II, 13 Tony, 14 Val, 40 Betty, 21 Topsy, 6 Jake. 4 Hickpry, 1 Dinah

Allied: 8 P-38G, 6 B-25C, 4 TBF, 2 B-25J, 2 Beaufighter Mk21, 1 PBY Catalina, 1 Beaufort

(in reply to freeboy)

Post #: 181

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/22/2005 11:27:51 PM

Belphegor

Posts: 2209
Joined: 5/10/2004
Status: offline

The amount of aircraft the Allied player has is staggering. He can take high ops losses without any interruption in his massive bombing raids.

I got in a quick success at Eniwetok, torpedoing a few transports with Bettys, sinking two.

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 182

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/23/2005 6:03:59 PM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-2-43

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

2 A6M3a, 31 Betty, 10 Sally from Ponape strike Allied transport TF at Eniwetok:

AK 1 Torp
AK 2 Torp heavy damage......sinks
AK 3 Torp heavy damage......sinks
AK 1 Torp on fire

Allied command was disappointed with their attack on Ponape yesterday so all CAP was grounded on Eniwetok for offensive operations and the Japanese take advantage of it.

2 A6M3a, 27 Sally from Lunga strike Allied transport TF at Rennel Is. but are met by LRCAP of 33 F4F-4: All Japanese planes destroyed with no hits on shipping. The CVEs are doing their job well.

SS I-124 brazenly enters Luganville harbor where 200+ Allied ships lay at anchor.....100+ of which are anti-sub. ASW TF 1013 with 7 MSW and 2 SC drops some depth charges but misses. SS I-124 then lays a load of mines in the harbor. TF 1013 and TF 1006 immediately go to work clearing the minefield. 5 DDs then pick up SS I-124 on sonar and hit her with 6 depth charges sinking her immediately. I thought this was an interesting sequence in the combat report.

SEAC:

52 B-25J, 43 Liberator VI, 15 Beaufort V-IX and 12 Blenheim IV from Chandpur execute strategic bombing of Mandalay with no Allied plane losses:

Oil hits 20

38 P-40B, 54 B-25J, 27 Beaufort V-IX, 25 Beaufighter Mk21, 7 Boomerang, 12 Vengeance and 11 Blenheim IV hit Rangoon port:

AP 7 Bombs heavy damage
AP 10 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 4 Bombs on fire
AP 5 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 8 Bombs on fire heavy damage
SS I-156 4 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 5 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 5 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 4 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 5 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 3 Bombs 0n fire heavy damage

297 casualties

Port 7 hits
Port fuel 4 hits
Port supply 4 hits

No Allied plane losses. 33% damage airfield. 31% Port damage.

SWPAC:

24 P-38G from Koepang sweep Kenadri and face CAP of 1 Tony killing it with no losses.

21 P-38G from Kai Is., 16 Corsair, 9 Kittyhawk, 36 A-20G from Babo encounter CAP of 9 A6M3a at Amboina before bombing the airfield:

15+ A6M3a destroyed

36 casualties

Airbase supply 3 hits
Runway 25 hits

2 P-38G, 1 A-20G killed. Airfield 41% damage

19 P-38G, 61 B-25J from Thursday Is. dogfight CAP of 4 A6M3a and 4 Oscar II at Lae before bombing the airfield:

4 Oscar, 2 A6M3a destroyed

218 casualties

Airbase 2 hits
Airbase supply 2 hits
Runway 48 hits

No Allied plane losses. Airfield 44% damage

36 PB4Y Liberator from Cooktown bomb Port Moresby port:

AG 1 Bomb
AG 1 Bomb

Port 1 hit

10 Beaufighter MK21, 8 B-25J from Babo find Japanese transport TF at Sorong:

TK 4 Bombs onfire heavy damage

3 PB4Y Liberators from Cooktown hit transport TF near Port Moresby:

AK 2 Bombs on fire

6 PB4Y Liberators from Cooktown encounter CAP of 3 A6M3a and 2 Oscar II at Port Moresby: No AC losses for either side and no hits.

9 PB4Y Liberators from Cooktown tangel with CAP of 3 A6M3a and 2 Oscar II at Port Moresby: No AC losses for either side and no hits.

11 Kittyhawk, 63 BeaufortV-IX, 51 Beaufighter Mk21, 14 Vengeance, and 12 Barracuda from Babo strike transport TF at Biak:

AP 4 Bomb on fire heavy damage
PG 3 Bomb 4 Torp on fire heavy damage
AP 10 Bomb 2 Torp on fire heavy damage
MSW 1 Bomb on fire heavy damage

SOPAC:

18 P-38G from Majuro sweep Kwajalein but encounter no opposition. 185 B-17E, 81 B-25C, 23 PB4Y Liberator, 21 B-26B and 19 B-25J hit Kwajalein port:

214 casualties

Port 22 hits
Port supply 14 hits
Port fuel 9 hits

No Allied plane losses. Port 33% damage.

24 P-38G from Kusaie sweep CAP of 15 A6M3a at Ponape killing 3 A6M3a with no Allied losses. 41 P-38G from Eniwetok(hence no Allied CAP over Eniwetok) sweep CAP of 13 A6M3a over Ponape killing all 13 A6M3a with no Allied plane losses.

Allies fly 6440 sorties to 1627 Japanese sorties. Allies lose 19 AC(14 from operations) to 51 Japanese AC.

For the 1st time in the war, the Japanese have lost more shipping points(4603 points, 471 ships) than the Allies(4586 ship points, 316 ships).

(in reply to Belphegor)

Post #: 183

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/23/2005 7:22:51 PM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-3-42

SS Saury puts 2 torpedoes in an AK off Sulawesi. In an amazing display of Dutch bravery, SS O23 surfaces in Makassar Strait to put 4 shells and 2 totpedoes in an AK only to receive a shell hit in return.

Japanese ships continue to sink.....the TK that was hit yesterday at Sorong with Captain Madison? in command, 2 AP and an MSW at Biak, and the AK that was bombed 2 days ago with carrier air in the Solomons.

SEAC:

48 B-25J, 39 Liberator VI, 14 Blenheim IV and 12 Beufort V-IX strategic bomb Mandalay:

Oil 7 hits

39 P-40B, 41 B-25J, 29 Beaufort V-IX, 27 Beaufighter Mk21, 28 Vengeance, 7 Blenheim IV and 8 Boomerang bomb Rangoon port:

323 casualties

Port 12 hits
Port supply 4 hits

No Allied losses. Airfield 415 damage. Port 28% damage.

All Japanese shipping that had been in Rangoon port flees to the SE. 4 Blenheim IV from Akyab find them but score no hits. 50 B-25J and 12 Blenheim IV from Akyab then arrive:

AP 1 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 1 Bomb on fire
AP 1 Bomb on fire
AP 1 Bomb on fore
AP 1 Bomb on fire
AP 8 Bomb on fire heavy damage

341 casualties

18 B-25J and 8 Blenheim IV from Akyab find another fleeing TF:

AP 2 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 5 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 2 Bomb on fire heavy damage

SWPAC:

21 P-38G from Kai Is., 15 Corsair, 9 Kittyhawk and 29 A-20G from Babo dogfight CAP of 3 A6M3A over Amboina before bombing the airfield:

2 A6M3a destroyed

Airbase 1 hit
Airbase supply 1 hit
Runway 12 hits

1 A-20 destroyed.

49 B-25J, 47 B-24D, 42 B-25C and 31 Beaufort V-IX from Kai Is. encounter CAP of 3 A6M3A over Amboina before bombing the airfield:

1 A6M3a killed

125 casualties

Airbase 7 hits
Airbase supply 3 hits
Runway 82 hits

1 B-25c 1 B-25J and 1 B-24D are lost. Airfield 56% damage.

24 P-38G, 53 B-24D, 37 B-17E and 9 PB4Y Liberator from Koepang bomb Kendari port:

AK 7 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 4 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 5 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 4 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 3 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 1 Bomb heavy damge
AK 4 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 3 Bomb on fire heavy damge
AK 4 Bomb on fire heavy damage
PG 1 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 2 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 4 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 3 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 2 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AP 1 Bomb
AK 1 Bomb on fire

42 Casualties

Port 10 hits
Port supply 5 hits

No Allied losses. Airfield 45% damage. Port 18% damage.

73 Beaufort V-IX, 46 Beaufighter Mk21, 15 Vengeance, 12 Barracuda and 5 Kittyhawks bomb Sansapor airfield:

105 casualties

Airbase 7 hits
Airbase supply 3 hits
Runway 57 hits

No Allied losses. Airfield 17% damage.

15 Beaufighter MK21 from Babo and 10 B-25 J from Kai Is. strike transport TF at Sorong:

MSW 4 Bombs on fire heavy damage
TK 5 Bombs on fire heavy damage

43 P-38 G and 52 B-25J from Thursday Is. hit transport TF near Lae:

AK 1 Bomb on fire
AK 2 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 5 Bomb on fire heavy damage

15 PB4Y Liberator from Cooktown attack TF near Lae and fight off CAP of 3 A6M3a with no planes losses for either side:

AG 1 Bomb on fire heavy damage
AK 9 Bombs on fire heavy damage

16 PB4Y Liberator from Cooktown strike TF at Lae but score no hits.

12 PB4Y Liberator from Cooktown find TF at Lae:

AK 4 Bomb on fire heavy damage

SOPAC:

19 P-38G from Kusaie sweep CAP over Ponape of 14 A6M3a killing 3 with no Allied losses.

136 B-17E, 55 B-25C, 17 B-25J, 17 B-26B and 21 PB4Y Liberator bomb Kwajalein port:

184 casualties

Port 12 hits
Port supply 6 hits
Port fuel 6 hits

1 PB4Y Liberator killed. Port 44% damaged.

The airbase on Rennel Is. opens for business and F4F-4s and Corsairs immediately stage in.

< Message edited by AdmSpruance -- 4/23/2005 7:54:16 PM >

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 184

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/24/2005 10:57:17 PM

Belphegor

Posts: 2209
Joined: 5/10/2004
Status: offline

Thursday Attacked on Sunday! Pilots rewarded with Medals on Monday, Tuesday off. Details Wednesday...

small victory, but hey! every little bit counts. Bombers out of PM finally connect.

Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 9
Ki-21 Sally x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 10 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 11 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Empire Foam, Bomb hits 4, on fire
AK Empire Hope, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Raven, Bomb hits 4, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 1000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 1000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 1000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 1000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 185

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/25/2005 9:12:58 PM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-8-43

Allied air continues to pound Japanese bases and shipping at Burma, Banda Sea, and the Marshall Islands. Four of the damaged APs fleeing Rangoon sink off the Malay coast near Victoria Point. An AK and PC sink at anchor in Kendari port.

SS Amberjack puts 2 fish in an AP off the NE coast of Sulawesi.

SWPAC: BANDA SEA CAMPAIGN....Invasion of Sorong

The 4th Marine Rgt waded ashore at dawn today at Sorong. Minimal resistance was encountered and the Allies hope to secure the airbase by tomorrow.

12 P-38G, 29 B-25J and 15 Beaufighter Mk21 from Kai Is. city bomb Amboina causing 5 oil hits.

9 P-38G and 29 Beaufort V-IX from Kai Is. bomb Amboina airbase:

41 casualties

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24

Japan strikes back. 24 A6M3, 9 Tony, 13 Sally and 8 Betty from Port Moresby locate an Allied transport TF at Thursday Is. With a CAP of 22 P-38G, 5 Tony and 5 P-38G are destroyed. The bombers then hit the transports:

AK 4 Bombs on fire
AK 4 Bombs 2 Torpedoes on fire heavy damage
AK 4 Bombs on fire

SEAC:

49 B-25J, 38 Liberator VI, 14 BlenheimIV and 15 Beaufort V-IX city bomb Mandalay knocking out 28 resource points with no AC lost.

30 P-40B, 62 B-25J, 28 Beaufighter Mk21, 27 Vengeance, 16 Blenheim IV, 16 Beaufort I and 15 Beaufort V-IX from Akyab bomb Rangoon port and airbase:

AP 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage

259 casualties

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 51
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 3

No Allied AC losses.

SOPAC:

6 P-38G, 123 B-17E, 49 B-25C, 15 B-25J, 21 B-25B, 18 PB4Y Liberator from Majuro bomb Kwajalein port:

248 casualties

Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 6

No Allied AC losses.

(in reply to Belphegor)

Post #: 186

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/25/2005 10:00:12 PM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-9-43

Two more APs fleeing Rangoon sink off the Burma coast. 2 AK and an AP sink in Kendari port. An Allied AK sinks at Thursday Is.

SWPAC: BANDA SEA CAMPAIGN.... Sorong is Captured

The airbase at Sorong was secured by the Allies with minimal casualties. This marks the completion of the Banda Sea Campaign. The Allies advanced 720 miles across the Banda Sea from Darwin under land based air cover in a little over 9 months. MacArthur has advanced in a series of leapfrog attacks from Darwin to Tenimbar to Aru to Kai to Babo and now finally to Sorong. With the Japanese bases at Kendari, Amboina and Sansapor suppressed, the Banda Sea is now virtually an Allied lake. SWPAC now rests on the shore of the western Pacific ready to break out into the DEI, the PI, or isolate New Guinea and the Caroline Islands.

34 B-24D, 21 B-17E and 9 PB4Y Liberators from Koepang bomb Kendari port after fighting through CAP of 10 A6M3a and 1 Tony:

1 A6M3a killed

AK 2 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 2 Bombs heavy damage
AP 5 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AK 2 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AK 7 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AK 4 Bombs on fire heavy damage

88 casualties

Port hits 3

No Allied AC are lost.

9 P-38G and 14 Beaufort V-IX from Kau Is. bomb Amboina airfield scoring 11 Runway hits

75 Beaufort V-IX, 36 Beaufighter MK21, 14 Avenger, 10 Wildcat V, 15 Vengeance, 12 Barracuda and 5 Kittyhawk from Babo and British CVs bomb Sorong airfield:

108 casualties

airbase hits 9
airbase supply hits 9
runway hits 78

No Allied AC are lost.

5 Betty from Lae attempt to interdict the invasion forces at Sorong but are met by Allied CAP of 20 P-38G, 10 Corsair and 5 Wildcat V. All Bettys are destroyed with no Allied damage.

20 A6M3, 3 Tony, 8 Betty and 6 Sally from Port Moresby dogfight Allied CAP over Thursday Is. of 41 P-38G. 4 A6M3, 2 Tony, 2 Betty and 1 Sally are lost vs 4 P-38G. The Allied transport TF is hit:

AK 1 Torpedo on fire heavy damage
AK 4 Bombs on fire heavy damage

5 Bettys from Lae and then 3 Betty from Lae attempt to attack Allied invasion shipping at Sorong but run into CAP of 17 P-38G, 6 Corsair and 3 Wildcat V. All 8 Betty are destroyed.

24 P-38G, 27 B-25J and 14 Beaufighter Mk21 from Babo and Kai city bomb Amboina scoring 5 oil hits.

SEAC:

3 B-25J from Akyab find a transport TF at Rangoon:

AP 1 bomb on fire

7 Blenheim IV and 14 Beaufighter Mk21 from Akyab hit another TF at Rangoon:

AP 11 bombs on fire heavy damage

SOPAC:

81 B-17E, 43 B-25C, 24 PB4Y Liberator, 21 B-25J and 19 B-26B from Majuro bomb Kwajalein port:

89 casualties

Port hits 9
Port supply hits 2
Port fuel hits 3

16 Corsair from Rennel Is. sweep Lunga but encounter no opposion.

+

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 187

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/27/2005 5:11:23 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-10-43

SOPAC: SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN....INVASION OF MUNDA: D-Day minus 1

SOPAC HQ has redeployed from Tarawa to Luganville in preparation for invasion of the Solomon Island chain. After building up Rennel Is. to a LvL 2 airfield, the 1st objective for SOPAC is Munda. A massive amphibious TF covered by a CV, CVE, and 2 surface TFs lies 60 miles SE of Munda for the invasion that will begin tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, a Replenishment TF does not follow orders(to follow the CVE TF) and is left out in the open...the hapless CVEs' decks are so cluttered with replacement aircraft that they are unable to fly CAP:

20 A6M3a and 22 Bettys blow through LRCAP of 4 Corsair and after losing 1 A6M3a and 2 Betty strike the Replenishment TF putting a single torpedo in CVE Altamaha and leaving her ablaze.

16 A6M3a and 3 Betty attack the invasion forces covered by CAP of 245 F4F-4. 10 A6M3a, 3 Betty are killed vs 9 F4F-4. No hits are scored.

2 A6M3a and 3 Betty attack invasion forces covered by CAP of 238 F4F-4. 2 A6M3a and 3 Betty are lost vs 2 F4F-4 with no hits.

Allied CVs launch an attack on a transport TF at Shortland with 72 SBD and 42 TBF:

DD Kasasagi 4 Bombs....sinks
AP 5 Bombs......sinks
AP 5 Bombs 2 Torp...... sinks

3 F4F-4, 71 SBD and 55 TBF bomb Munda port causing 6 casualties and 2 port supply hits. Again the carrier air is ineffective in base bombing.

SWPAC:

15 P-38G, 59 B-24D, 41 B-17E and 11 PB4Y Liberators fight off CAP of 10 A6M3a and 1 Tony before bombing Kendari port:

AP 7 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AK 6 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AP 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AK 4 Bombs on fire heavy damage

50 casualties

Port hits 10
Port supply hits 8
Port fuel hits 3

No Allied AC are lost.

9 P-40E, 73 Beaufort V-IX, 42 Beaufighter Mk21, 15 Vengeance, 6 Kittyhawk and 11 Barracuda from Babo bomb airfield at Sansapor:

49 casualties

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 98

No Allied AC are lost.

SEAC:

53 B-25J, 43 Liberator VI, 14 Beaufort V-IX and 14 Blenheim IV from Chandpur city bomb Mandalay scoring 18 resource hits.

9 B-25J and 10 Beaufighter Mk21 from Akyab hit a TF off the Burma coast:

AP 1 Bomb on fire

8 B-25J and 2 Beaufighter Mk21 from Akyab hit a TF at Rangoon:

AP 7 Bomb on fire heavy damage

In other news, SS Searaven surfaces off NW coast of Luzon to put 8 shells and a torpedo in an AK.

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 188

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/27/2005 5:14:47 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-11-43

SOPAC: SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN.....INVASION OF MUNDA

In the pre-dawn hours Allied bombardment TFs start working over the defenses of Munda.
A TF headed by BB South Dakota, BB Washington and BB Indiana scores 756 casualties and knocks out 13 guns. A TF headed by BB Pennsylvania and BB Valiant causes 312 casualties and takes out 4 guns. Transports carrying the 2nd USMC Division and USA 43rd Infantry Division are hit by 41 coastal guns suffering a hit on LCI-62. Troops unload on Munda all day as the Japanese send in several small piecemeal air attacks:

15 Betty from Port Moresby strike the invasion TFs at Munda but are intercepted by LRCAP of 117 F4F-4. All Bettys are splashed with no hits on shipping.

3 Betty from Truk hit invasion TF covered by LRCAP of 134 F4F-4...all are killed.

3 Betty from Rabaul hit invasion TF covered by LRCAP of 151 F4F-4...all are killed.

3 Betty from Truk hit invasion TF covered by LRCAP of 110 F4F-4....all are killed.

6 Corsair, 7 P-38G , 24 TBF and 84 F4F-4 strike ground units at Munda but cause no damage.

SWPAC:

9 P-40E, 9 Kittyhawk, 76 Beaufort V-IX, 44 Beaufighter Mk21, 13 Vengeance and 11 Barracuda strike airfield at Sansapor:

38 casualties

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 93

No Allied AC are lost.

22 Tony, 21 A6M3a, 6 Sally and 7 Betty from Lae dogfight CAP over Thursday Is. of 36 P-38G and 12 P-40E. 15 A6M3a, 8 Tony and 1 Sally go down in flames vs 2 P-40E and 1 P-38 killed. Bombers then hit Allied transports:

AK 1 Bomb sinks
AK 1 Bomb on fire heavy damage

SEAC:

33 P-40B, 68 B-25J and 12 Beaufort VIC from Akyab city bomb Rangoon scoring 26 resource hits.

45 B-25J, 26 Liberator VI, 14 Blenheim IV and 12 Beaufort V-IX from Chandpur city bomb Mandalay scoring 17 resource hits.

An Allied AK sinks off Thursday Is.
Japanese APs sink off Kedari and the Malay coast.

2000 IJA bombard 14,000 US troops on Munda causing 14 casualties.

< Message edited by AdmSpruance -- 4/27/2005 5:39:27 AM >

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 189

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/27/2005 6:25:20 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-12-43

SOPAC: SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN......MUNDA BASES CAPTURED BY THE ALLIES

23,000 troops from the 2nd USMC Division, USA 43rd Infantry Division and the USA 19th Engineers launch a deliberate attack on Munda's 3900 defenders killing 124 Japanese while losing 42 and forced the remnants to flee into the jungle for future mop-up operations. Meanwhile, air battles rage all over the Solomons:

US CVs throw 18 TBF and 24 SBDs at CAP of 6 Rufes over Buin. No AC are lost and a TF is hit:

AK 9 Bombs 2 Torps on fire heavy damage
AK 3 Bombs on fire heavy damage

Another 9 TBF are sent at Buin....CAP 6 Rufes...No AC lost:

AP 1 Torp on fire heavy damage

9 Sally from Shortland strike US CV TF with CAP of 344 F4F-4.....4 Sally killed with no hits.

143 F4F-4 and 25 TBF bomb Munda with no hits.

3 Betty from Lae strike invasion fleet at Munda with LRCAP 143 F4F-4...all are killed.

13 Betty from Port Moresby hit invasion TF with LRCAP 143 F4F-4...7 Betty are splashed with no hits.

5 Sally from Shortland attack CV TF with CAP 255 F4F-4....2 Sally are killed with no hits.

SWPAC:

37 P-38 from Thursday Is. sweep CAP over Lae of 4 A6M3a and 14 A6M3. 2 A6M3 and 2 P-38G are killed.

11 B-24D and 3 PB4Y Liberator from Koepang fight off CAP over Kendari of 14 A6M3a and 1 Tony before bombing a TF. No AC lost and no hits scored.

14 P-38G, 7 PB4Y Liberators, 34 B-17E and 49 B-24D from Koepang battle CAP over Kendaro of 13 A6M3a and 1 Tony before bombing the airfield:

2 A6M3a
17 Betty
11 Topsy
7 Val
3 Jake
1 Dinah

153 casualties

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 96

No Allied AC lost.

9 P-40E, 7 Kittyhawk, 74 Beaufort V-IX, 31 Beaufighter Mk21, 12 Vengeance and 12 Barracuda bomb Sansapor airfield:

51 casualties

Airbase 5 hits
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 83

1 Beaufighter Mk21 destroyed.

16 Tony, 16 A6M3a, 10 Sally and 11 Betty from Port Moresby fight CAP of 11 P-40E over Thursday Is. before bombing a TF. 1 A6M3a, 1 Tony and 3 P-40E are killed:

AK 4 Bombs .......sinks
AK 3 Bombs 2 Torps.....sinks

A Japanese AK and AP sink at Buin while another AP sinks near Kendari.

SS Cachalot catches an AK off the NE coast of Borneo and puts 2 fish in her.

(in reply to racndoc)

Post #: 190

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/27/2005 7:35:10 PM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-13-43

The air war quiets down as bad weather covers much of the map.

MARSHALL ISLANDS:

A possible Japanese Air Combat TF threatens Allied containment of the Marhalls.

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Post #: 191

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/27/2005 7:40:30 PM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT : 3-13-43

The buildup continues at Sorong while the Japanese reinforce Hollandia. Airfields at Sansapor, Amboina and Kendari are neutralized.

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< Message edited by AdmSpruance -- 4/27/2005 7:49:03 PM >

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Post #: 192

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/28/2005 6:54:10 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-14-43

Bad weather grounded most of the AC across the board today but things are starting to clear in the far east so SEAC and SWPAC should resume their aerial offensives tomorrow while things are still murky in the south Pacific.

SOPAC: SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN

Seabees on Munda just completed a Lvl 1 airfield in 2 days so Corsairs and P-38s were staged in today. The 2nd USMC and 43rd Infantry Divisions have completly unloaded so mop-up operations should commence on Munda tomorrow.

Meanwhile, an apparent IJN Air Combat TF lurks menacingly just west of Marshalls. An extra squadron of P-38s is staged into Kusaie just in case:

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< Message edited by AdmSpruance -- 4/28/2005 7:09:46 AM >

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Post #: 193

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/29/2005 7:11:34 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 3-15-43

Another AP fleeing Rangoon sinks off the Malay coast.

SS Perch puts 2 fish in an AK off NE coast of Luzon sinking it and killing its captain LTCMDR Webb.

SWPAC:

15 P-38G, 93 B-24D, 27 B-17E, 16 B-25J and 14 PB4Y from Koepang dogfight CAP over Kendari of 10 A6M3a and 1 Tony brfore bombing the airfield:

1 Tony
2 A6M3a
2 Topsy
2 Val
5 Betty
1 Dinah

231 casualties

Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 211

1 B-24D is lost.

73 B-25J, 46 B-25C, 32 Vengeance, 30 Beaufort V-IX and 30 A-20G from Kai Is. bomb airfield at Amboina:

156 casualties

Airbase hits 32
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 169

2 Vengeance and 1 Beaufort V-IX are lost.

40 P-38G and 61 B-25J from Thursday Is. encounter CAP over Lae of 5 A6M3a before bombing the airfield:

4 A6M3a
2 A6M3
2 Dinah
2 Betty

206 casualties

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 55

2 P-38G are lost.

42 P-38G, 4 Kittyhawk and 8 Beaufort V-IX from Babo hit TF near Noemfoor:

AK 1 Bomb

4 Kittyhawk, 5 P-40E and 9 Beaufort V-IX from Babo hit airfield at Sansapor:

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

SOPAC:

Two surface combat TFs bombard Munda before ground troops begin mop-up operations. 2nd USMC and 43rd US Infantry muster 29,000 men vs 3200 IJA but suffer 164 casualties to only 33 Japanese.

13 Corsair, 21 P-38G and 16 SBD from Rennel Is. bomb Lunga airfield scoring 3 runway hits.

B5N Kate scouts are sighted over Kusaie.....its definitely a CV TF. Kusaie launches 35 P-38G, 16 TBF and 8 B-25C at the IJN CV TF. Japanese CAP of 96 A6M2 engages the Allied strike and loses 26 planes while shooting down 9 P-38G and 4 TBF. The surviving 12 TBF then make a run on the CVs losing 3 more to AA before hitting CV Junyo with a torpedo. The B-25C score no hits:

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Post #: 194

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 4/29/2005 5:19:33 PM

racndoc

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From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-16-43

SOPAC: SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN

The seabees enlarge Munda airstrip to lvl 2 and more fighters and SBDs are immediately staged in.

7 Corsair, 12 SBD, 8 F4F-4 and 24 P-38G from Rennel Is. bomb Lunga scoring 5 runway hits.

96 F4F-4, 11 P-38G, 204 SBD and 117 TBF from Munda and the CV TFs work over 5th Sasabo SNLF on Munda causing 524 casualties.

2nd USMC and 43rd US Inf. Divisions continue mopping up on Munda killing 171 Japanese while losing 38 of their own.

33 A6M3 and 26 A6M3a sweep Kusaie but encounter no opposition.

21 B-25J, 20 B-25C and 3 B-26B from Kusaie and Majuro bomb Kwajalein:

103 casualties

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 20

1 B-25C is lost.

200 B-17E and 24 PB4Y from Majuro bomb Kwajalein:

300 casualties

Airbase hits 119
Aibase supply hits 14
Runway hits 195

No Allied AC are lost.

SWPAC:

2 P-38G, 90 B-24D and 9 B-25J from Koepang encounter CAP of 8 A6M3a over Kendari before bombing the airfield:

1 Tony
1 Betty
1 Dinah

95 casualties

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 154

No Allied AC are lost.

60 B-25J, 40 B-25C, 30 A-20G, 13 Beaufort V-IX and 2 Vengeance from Kai Is. bomb Amboina:

136 casualties

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 149

20 P-38G and 54 B-25J from Thursday Is. engage CAP over Lae of 6 A6M3a before bombing the airfield:

6 A6M3a
2 Betty
1 Tony

478 casualties

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 54

No Allied AC are lost.

24 P-38G and 61 PB4Y from Cooktown bomb Port Moresby:

1 A6M3
4 Sally

20 casualties

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 66

No Allied AC are lost.

9 P-38, 9 PB4Y and 37 B-17E from Koepang dogfight CAP over Kendari of 7 A6M3a before bombing the airfield:

31 casualties

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 39

1 B-17E is lost.

The Japanese appear to be staging an operation off the NW coast of New Guinea as several transport TFs and a surface TF are spotted. Allied airfields at Sorong and Babo are busy as numerous naval interdiction missions are flown:

4 Beaufort V-IX and 2 Beaufighter Mk21 from Babo hit TF near Noemfoor:

AK 1 Bomb

2 Kittyhawk, 6 P-40E, 38 P-38G, 52 Beaufighter Mk21 and 17 Beaufort V-IX from Babo strike IJN TF near Noemfoor:

CL Kinu 1 Bomb on fire
CA Kako 1 Torpedo

13 Corsair, 15 P-38G, 12 Barracuida and 14 Beaufighter MK21 from Sorong find a TF near Noemfoor but score no hits.

38 P-38G, 2 Kittyhawk, 2 P-40 E and 4 Beaufort from Babo attack a TF near Noemfoor but score no hits.

40 Beaufighter MK21 and 15 Beaufort V-IX from Babo find IJN TF near Noemfoor:

CL Kimu 1 Bomb on fire
CL Abukuma 4 Bomb 2 Torpedo on fire heavy damage

16 Corsair, 15 P-38G, 9 Barracuda and 13 Beaufighter MK21 from Sorong strike IJN TF near Noemfoor:

CL Kinu 1 Torpedo on fire heavy damage

3 P-38 and 8 Beaufighter Mk21 from Babo bomb TF near Hollandia:

AK 1 Bomb on fire

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Post #: 195

This thread "Nag v Spru".. - 5/1/2005 12:56:28 PM

AdmFletcher

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/25/2004
Status: offline

is truly the paragon for wargaming.

Very detailed reports and interesting developments. The only drawback is the fact that War in the Pacific = America plus others vs Japan minus Germany. Sadly that isn't a real fair fight because America can pretty much beat Japan up, population, economy, resources.. blindfolded.

I hope all of you involved in this thread (my Allied colleague and the various other Japanese supremos) will continue to ensure that such quality wargaming and reporting is the standard for Matrix forums. Hope all of you will play other games and make these games come ALIVE!

I'd rather watch a "movie" of this game playing out rather than 99% of the movie trash screened in cinemas nowadays. Good reporting correspondents (and commanders!

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Post #: 196

RE: This thread "Nag v Spru".. - 5/2/2005 8:19:09 PM

racndoc

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From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-18-43

SOPAC: SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN.....MUNDA SECURED

After killing 2500 Japanese in the jungle yesterday, the final 2000 stragglers were mopped up today. Munda airfield has been enlarged to LvL 3 and has become the main Allied airbase in the Solomons.

11 A6M3 and 4 Kates from Ponape attack an Allied TF near Kusaie. CAP of 23 P-38G intercept and kill 2 A6M3 but the Kates get through to land 2 bombs on an SC sinking it.

11 F4F-4, 20 F4U-1 and 23 P-38G from Rennel bomb Lunga airfield:

11 casualties
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 10

79 B-25C, 30 B-25J and 18 B-26B fom Majuro and Kusaie bomb Kwajalein:

116 casualties
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

13 P-38G, 154 B-17E, 17 B-25C and 16 PB4Y from Majuro bomb Kwajalein:

Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 6

SEAC:

6 Spitfire, 6 Beaufort I, 8 Beaufighter Mk21 and 55 B-25J from Akyab city bomb Pagan scoring 6 resource hits.

12 Vengeance, 6 Beaufighter VIC, 27 P-40B and 12 Beaufighter Mk21 bomb Rangoon:

92 casualties
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15

SWPAC:

20 P-38G and 32 B-25J from Thursday bomb Lae:

1 A6M3
1 A6M2
1 Dinah

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 33

15 WildcatV, 2 Kittyhawk, 12 Beaufort V-IX and 7 P-40 E from Babo and British CVs hit TF near Noemfoor:

AK 12 bombs on fire heavy damage

6 P-38G and 12 Beaufighter Mk21 from Sorong hit a TF north of Noemfoor:

MSW 2 Bombs on fire heavy damage
AG 1 Bomb.....sinks

CL Kinu heavily damaged 2 days earlier by land based air sinks N of New Guinea.

Japanese AP sink off Borneo and Georgtown and an AK sinks at Noemfoor.

SS Jack puts a fish in an AK N of Luzon.

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Post #: 197

RE: This thread "Nag v Spru".. - 5/3/2005 6:50:07 AM

racndoc

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SITUATION REPORT: 3-23-43

Air war has quieted down but losses have been brutal for the IJN in March....almost 100 ships have been sunk in the last 3 weeks.

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Post #: 198

RE: This thread "Nag v Spru".. - 5/4/2005 5:35:31 AM

racndoc

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From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-24-43

The Japanese send a kamikaze transport TF from Truk to re-supply Kwajalein after it has been cut off for 6 weeks and bombed on a daily basis. One AK is sunk yesterday by land based air. Another AK and a MSW make it through several hundred land based aircraft only to be met by a surface TF of USN DDs at their destination:

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Post #: 199

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/5/2005 6:16:51 PM

racndoc

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From: Newport Coast, California
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WAR PLANS: SPRING 1943

CENTPAC:

MARSHALL IS. Area of operations now under CENTPAC based at Oahu. Will continue to suppress remaining Japanese bases in the Marshalls and prepare for eventual capture of bases within range of Japanese home islands.

SOPAC:

Based on Espirutu Santo, SOPAC will campaign up the Solomon Is. chain to reduce and isolate Rabaul.

NORPAC:

Based at Cooktown, will secure bases around southern tip of New Guinea to assist SOPAC in reduction of Rabaul.

SEAC:

Strategic defensive along India/Burma border.

CHINA:

Strategic defensive

SWPAC:

MacArthur relocates his HQ to Babo as SWPAC prepares for a thrust into the DEI. Banda Sea is now an Allied "lake" as Amboina, Kedari and Sansapor remain suppressed.

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Post #: 200

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/7/2005 7:05:26 PM

racndoc

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From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-28-43

SOPAC: SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN.....INVASION OF GUADALCANAL

After securing Rennel and Munda, SOPAC focused on an invasion of Guadalcanal to eliminate the last Japanese stronghold in the southern Solomons. With over 33,000 entrenched Japanese supported by 200+ guns on Lunga, SOPAC decided to 1st land on Tassafaronga and then move overland into Lunga.

After an intense pre-dawn bombardment by 2 BB TFs, elements of the USMC 2nd Division, USA 43rd Infantry Division, USA Americal Division, 19th USA Engineer RGT. and the USA 102nd RCT waded ashore with minimal resistance from an IJA SNLF unit. Many more formations are to follow....will probably need 100,000 plus troops with armor and arty to dislodge the Japanese in Lunga.

At precisely the same moment, the IJN sent a 2 DD surface raider force into Munda to sink Allied shipping. Several formations of land based and CV based air hit the kamikaze surface TF scoring 5 bomb hits on DD Murasame. Then the USN bombardment TF with BB Indiana, BB Washington and BB South Dakota reacted to Japanese threat and after bombarding Tassafaronga in the early AM sped to Munda to finish off the 2 impertinent IJN DDs.

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Post #: 201

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/7/2005 9:51:52 PM

racndoc

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SITUATION REPORT: 3-29-43......SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN: TASSAFARONGA SECURED

39,000 US troops attacked the 1058 defenders of Tassafaronga and annihilated them thus securing the base there. Many more troops need to be unloaded before the Allies go overland into Lunga.

5 F4F-4 and 10 TBF from CVs supporting the invasion hit an IJN Transport TF at Lunga putting a torpedo in an AK.

23 A6M3 and 4 Kates strike TF at Kusaie but are met by CAP of 10 P-38G.....2 A6M3 and 1 P-38G are killed and 2 bombs hit an AK there.

SS I-31 also shows up at Kusaie and puts a fish in an AK.

SS Tambor puts 7 shells and 2 torpedoes into an AK off north coast of Luzon sinking it.

SS Thresher puts a torpedo in an AK off south coast of Japan sinking it.

RAID ON TRUK:

US CVs are heading for a major raid on Truk but stop to work over a Transport TF:

51 TBF and 106 SBD are launched and the entire TF of 1 DD, 2 PC and a TK are sunk.

Japanese planes on Truk launch a counterstrike:

9 A6M3, 4 A6M3a and 4 Bettys meet CAP of 92 F4F-4 over the flattops.....8 A6M3, 3 A6M3a and 1 Betty are splashed vs 3 F4F-4 with no hits landed.

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Post #: 202

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/8/2005 2:55:14 AM

racndoc

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From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-30-43

A bad day for the Japanese air force and a bad month for the navy.....over 140 sunk in March. Devastating raid on Truk today...details to follow.

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Post #: 203

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/8/2005 8:04:36 AM

racndoc

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From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-30-43 RAID ON TRUK....PEARL HARBOR AVENGED

The Allies launched their 1st air raid of the war on Truk today. Fast carriers under Admiral Spruance and Admiral Mitscher raced to within 120 miles of Truk and then turned into the wind:

AM strikes destroy two 1 AK TFs
PM strike hits the port: 68 F4F-4, 197 SBD and 80 TBF are are launched:

CVE Hosho 82 bombs.........sunk
CS Chiyoda 3 bombs.........sunk
AK 1 bomb.......................sunk
AK 3 bomb.......................sunk
CL Kiso 7 bombs on fire heavy damage
CL Kuma 2 bombs
MSW 1 bomb on fire heavy damage
CL Oi 5 bomb onfire heavy damage
AV 2 bombs on fire
ML 1 bomb heavy damage
PG 1 bomb on fire
PC 1 bomb on fire heavy damage

509 casualties
Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 4

USN losses 4 SBD, 3 TBF

Japanese counterstrike on US CV TFs:

36 A6M3a, 3 A6M3, 7 Sally and 30 Bettys face CV CAP of 171 F4F-4:

32 A6M3a, 3 A6M3, 7 Sally and 25 Betty killed vs 7 F4F-4. No hits on CV TFs.

9F4U-1, 11 SBD and 6 A-20G hit AK at Lunga: 5 Bombs.......sinks

12 Tony and 3 Sally hit invasion TF at Tassafaronga and encounter CAP of 18 F4U-1, 11 F4F-4 and 18 P-38G: 4 Tony and 1 Sally killed.....no Allied AC losses

17 A6M3a, 25 Tony and 3 Sally strike CVs off Guadalcanal and encounter CAP of 125 F4F-4 and 11 F4U-1: 17 A6M3a , 10 Tony and 33 Sally killed...no hits or Allied AC losses

BERMUDA TRIANGLE:

Bermuda Triangle between Vigan, Aparri and Batan.....IJN ships enter but they dont leave:

SS Sargo hits AP off Batan with 2 torpedoes and sinks her

SS Narwhal puts 2 torpedoes in a TK off N Luzon and sinks her

SS Peto puts 2 shells and a torpedo in an AK N Luzon and sinks her

Meanwhile, Japanese aircraft hit 3 subs today...5 subs in 2 days with massive damage...better than any Allied ASW has achieved.

SS Drum puts 2 torpedoes in an AK off Pagan and sinks her

SWPAC:

Japanese try to sneak offensive aircraft into Kendari but run into Allied bombardment:

49 B-24D, 10 B-17E, 13 B-25J and 15 PB4Y hit Kendari:

11 Val
14 Betty
6 Topsy
4 Tony
3 Jake

180 casualties

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits3
Runway hits 74

No Allied AC losses

40 B-25J strike Lae:

1 A6M3a

233 casualties

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 19

11 F4U-1, 13 Avenger I, 19 Kittyhawk, 44 Beaufighter Mk21 and 57 Beaufort V-IX hit Sansapor:

97 casualties

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 43

No Allied AC losses

24 P-38G and 13 PB4Y hit Port Moresby:

17 casualties

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 19

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Post #: 204

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/8/2005 9:32:05 PM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
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SITUATION REPORT: 3-31-43

RAID ON TRUK.....DAY 2

USN CV TFs sail to the western side of Truk to launch a 2nd attack on the lagoon:

67 F4F-4, 183 SBD and 72 TBF stirke Truk Lagoon:

CL Kiso Bombs 30........................sunk
CL Oi Bombs 32........................sunk
AV Bombs 7..........................sunk
MSW Bombs 4..........................sunk
ML Bombs 8 on fire heavy damage
MSW Bombs 3..........................sunk
MSW Bombs 2..........................sunk
MSW Bombs 4..........................sunk
MSW Bombs 1 on fire heavy damage
PC Bombs 1 on fire heavy damage
PG Bombs 1 on fire heavy damage
MSW Bombs 1 on fire heavy damage
AK Bombs 1 on fire heavy damage
MSW Bombs 1 on fire heavy damage

475 casualties

Port hits 7
Port supply hits 3

Allies lose 1 SBD and 3 TBF. No torpedoes were launched in 2 days of attacks(120 mi range)

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Post #: 205

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/9/2005 3:34:48 AM

racndoc

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SITUATION REPORT: 4-1-43

Fairly quiet turn today Allied assault forces for capturing Lunga almost completely offloaded at Tassafaronga.

The IJN attempts to lay mines at Biak with disasterous consequences:

26 Wildcat V, 4 F4U-1, 20 Swordfish, 10 Avenger I, 5 Kittyhawk, 60 Beaufighter Mk21, 61 Beaufort V-IX, 9 P-40E, 12 B-17E and 13 B-24D from Babo hit TF at Biak:

CL Kashima bombs 3, torpedoes 4.....sunk
ML bombs 3 on fire heavy damage
ML torpedoes 1 on fire
ML bombs 1 on fire
ML bombs 2 heavy damage

No Allied losses.

11 Wildcat V, 6 Avenger I, 52 Beaufighter Mk21, 37 Beaufort V-ix, 11 B-17E and 10 B-24D from Babo hit TF at Biak:

ML bombs 5, torpedoes 3..........sunk
ML bombs 16...........................sunk
ML bombs 6.............................sunk
ML bombs 4, torpedoes 3..........sunk

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Post #: 206

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/10/2005 8:19:49 AM

racndoc

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SITUATION REPORT: 4-3-43

SWPAC:

In a coup de main, Allied forces occupied the abandoned former Dutch base at Weda last week and the airfield finally became operational today. Now Allied land based air can reach Mindanao and Borneo and interdict oil shipments through the Celebes Sea and the Strait of Makassar.

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Post #: 207

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/10/2005 10:44:50 PM

Capt. Harlock

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From: Los Angeles
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Impressive attacks! (You gotta fell a little bit sorry for the IJN.)

_____________________________

Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

--Victor Hugo

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Post #: 208

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/12/2005 6:16:58 PM

racndoc

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Capt. Harlock...

Thanks for your comments. Your observation is correct. You do start feeling a little sorry for the Japanese by April 1943, a far cry from the desperate straights the Allies were facing in the Gilberts in July and August 1942 when they were down to their last few ships and planes and hanging by a thread. Other than land based aircraft, the two sides are not so disparate now. The main thing is that the Japanese seem to have lost the initiative and are reacting instead projecting themselves.

I thought that Id provide a comparison of forces at this time:

SURFACE FORCES: Was fairly equal until 2 IJN BBs and 3 CAs were sunk by Allied bombers in the Banda Sea in Feb. 1943. Allies have lost 11 BBs to 5 IJN BBs. That gives the Japanese 6-7 BBs including Yamato and Musashi. The USN has 4 fast BBs and 2 old BBs. The British have 5 BBs, three of which are in drydock. IJN has an advatage in CAs but after losing 70 DDs is lacking support ships.

AIR COMBAT FORCES: IJN has 8 CVs and 3 CVLs to USN 7 CVs and 2 CVLs. Quantity of aircraft is about even but Japanese have a qualitative advantage. They have upgraded their fighters to A6M3a but the USN is still flying F4F-4. That however will change in 2-3 nonths when the Hellcats become available.

LAND BASED AIR: I feel sorry for the Japanese here. Its almost like clubbing baby seals.
The F4U-1 havent done as much as I hoped do to limited range. The P-38G has been devastating especially in high altitude fighter sweeps. The Beaufighter Mk21 has proven to be an effective naval bomber at long range. The B-25s have been real workhorses and have exp. ratings in the high 70s and 80s. The heavy bombers can close any Japanese naval base or air base within range but get tired and have to be rested often.

OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS: The Japanese have basically ceased their offensive operations.

The Allies can chose when and where they want to attack but at this point in the war are limited by their sealift ability. SWPAC can sealift only about 1 1/2 divisions or 25,000 troops. Because of this, the Allies had to bypass Amboina, Kendari, Sansapor and even Bulla and capture empty or lightly defended bases.

SOPAC can sealift about 5 divisions or 75,000 troops which is why they avoided Japanese strongpoints at Kwajalein, Maloelap and Jaluit. They had to use AKs to get 100,000+ ashore at Tassafaonga which is why they didnt invade directly at Lunga.

The Allies have bypassed so many Japanese bases that their offensives are slowly grinding to a halt. ALL of their land based air is consumed by suppression of Japanese bases in their rear or on their flanks. The Allies will have to take one step backward to go two steps forward....ie mop up bases in their rear. The isolation strategy has been a failure in the Marshalls....there simply arent enough aircraft to suppress the Japanes bases at Maloelap, Wotje, Jaluit and Kwajalein simultaneously while fighting off air attacks from Ponape. Japanese air can still stage into Kwajalein and Maloelap from time to time and Allied shipping losses are a common occurence. CENTPAC will need to mop up at least 2 of these bases before the Allies can advance farther across the central Pacific(see map at bottom). This base suppression problem will become more pronounced as US bombers are pulled out of Majuro for the offensive at Guadalcanal.

In the southern DEI/NG, SWPAC has a HUGE number of ac with a lot of large airbases so can suppress Kendari, Amboina, and Sansapor pretty effectively but are maxed out there. The Allies can threaten Japanese shipping from advanced airbases at Sorong and Weda but can't advance any farther without threats to their own supply line. In NE Australia, SWPAC can suppress Lae and Port Moresby but not Buna so at least one of these bases must be eventually captured.

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(in reply to Capt. Harlock)

Post #: 209

RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM - 5/13/2005 7:31:58 AM

racndoc

Posts: 2519
Joined: 10/29/2004
From: Newport Coast, California
Status: offline

SITUATION REPORT: 4-5-43

CENTPAC:

Just when I was saying that the Japanese arent mounting any offensive threats, 2 IJN TFs with BBs and/or CVs are spotted sailing east toward the Marshalls: