PzB74
Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline
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It was an incredible exciting turn!! 
Dunno were to start...but I can reveal that the plan succeeded 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/04/43
Surface Combat
Two enemy PT boat TFs reacted against my bombardment groups advance
to Gasmata. It was the surface combat group that engaged the enemy warships
first though - as planned.
The first battle of the night: Nishimura engages an enemy surface group led by
the Pearl Harbour veteran Oklahoma. The old battleship fails to score any hits
with its large artillery. In return the light cruiser Denver and 3 destroyers are
blown out of the water! We still rules the waves at night - Yeah 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 4 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CA Nachi, Shell hits 9, on fire
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 15, on fire
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 13, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
DD Makinami, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Naganami
DD Kiyonami
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsukaze
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Arashi, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 9
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 2
CL Columbia, Shell hits 8, and is sunk *magazine explodes*
CL Denver, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Hughes, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Anderson, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Warramunga, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DMS Trevor, Shell hits 3, on fire
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A second battle against an Allied destroyer division is a draw even though
Nishimura is surprised. The heavy ships simply shrug of their assailants.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Nachi, on fire
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 5
DD Makinami, on fire
DD Naganami
DD Kiyonami
DD Kuroshio, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsukaze
DD Yukikaze, and is sunk
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 3, and is sunk *magazine explodes*
DD Arashi
Allied Ships
DD Woodworth
DD Gillespie
DD Sims, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD O'Brien, Shell hits 2
DD Selfridge
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Crane, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS Long, Shell hits 2
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Vice Admiral Yamamoto enters the scene!
First a barge convoy is blasted.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Takao
CA Chokai
CL Yura
DD Nowaki
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Shiratsuyu
Allied Ships
LCT LCT-470, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCT LCT-471, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
LCT LCT-472, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
LCT LCT-473
LCT LCT-474
LCT LCT-475, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
LCT LCT-476
LCT LCT-477
LCT LCT-478
LCT LCT-479
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
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...then a transport TF is hit!
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CA Chokai
CL Yura
DD Nowaki
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Shiratsuyu
Allied Ships
SC SC-634
SC SC-639
SC SC-641
SC SC-739, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AP President Polk, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
AP President Monroe
AP Chaumont, Shell hits 1
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
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A second transport group also receives a beating. Allied soldiers went down
with some of the transports.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Takao
CA Chokai
CL Yura
DD Nowaki
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Shiratsuyu
Allied Ships
AK Abigail Adams, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
AK David Dudley Field
AK Elizabeth Blackwell
AK Sheldon Jackson, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
493 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 11
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Then Yamamoto turns his attention to the already shaken battlegroup!
After only a few salvos the Oklahoma takes a direct hit by a 14" shell which penetrates
her hull and sparks of her magazine. A mighty plume of smoke and fire shoots into the
air and the ships dissappeares within minutes!
Two more Allied destroyers including a DMS are also sunk while the light cruiser Denver receives a beating.
Our own losses are minimal! What a glorious battle, the Emperor will be pleased.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 2
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Takao
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CL Yura
DD Nowaki
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Shiratsuyu
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 8, and is sunk *magazine explodes*
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 3
CL Denver, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Anderson, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS Trevor, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
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Then comes the battles which I had feared the most! 20 enemy PT boats hurled
themselves against the attackers to fend of the bombardment run. To no avail...
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Takao
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
CL Yura
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 2
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 1
DD Shiratsuyu
Allied Ships
PT PT-334
PT PT-335
PT PT-336
PT PT-337
PT PT-338
PT PT-339
PT PT-340
PT PT-341
PT PT-342
PT PT-343, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
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Nishimura takes some casualties as a damaged destroyer is hit by 2 torpedoes.
4 enemy PT boats have to pay for their impudence.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, on fire
CA Nachi, on fire
CA Ashigara, on fire
CA Mikuma, on fire
CL Kitakami
DD Makinami, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Naganami
DD Kiyonami, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Shiranuhi, Shell hits 1
DD Arashi
Allied Ships
PT PT-62
PT PT-63
PT PT-64
PT PT-65
PT PT-103
PT PT-104, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-105, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-106
PT PT-107, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PT PT-108, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-109
PT PT-110
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Bombardments
Finally Admiral Yamamoto is in position to fire his big guns against the crowded
beach heads around Gasmata!
10 ac are torched and almost 5000 enemy casualties reported!
This is just like the old day, mayhem and destruction to our enemies!!
Naval bombardment of Gasmata, at 59,90
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CA Chokai
CA Takao
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Kongo
Allied ground losses:
4709 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 40
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 13
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Air Combat
A perfect day for flying: not a cloud in the skies!
First a milk run against Rabaul is intercepted by a 'leaky' carrier CAP
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 4
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-24D Liberator x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F-5A Lightning: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port hits 4
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Here comes the Tojos: unfortunately they have a hard time against P-38s,
P-47s and Corsairs.
Day Air attack on Gasmata , at 59,90
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 51
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
P-38G Lightning x 8
P-47C Thunderbolt x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-47C Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
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Quite incredibly the Allies attack first! From the smoking runways at Gasmata
the remaining attack squadrons scramble and head towards the mighty carrier
armada!
6 Thunderbolts are shot down and the bombers doesn't score any hits...
Day Air attack on TF at 60,87
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
A6M5 Zeke x 47
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
SBD Dauntless x 3
Avenger I x 3
P-38G Lightning x 9
P-47C Thunderbolt x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 17 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Avenger I: 3 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-47C Thunderbolt: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CV Hiyo
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Avenger I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Another small scale raid is also fended of!
Day Air attack on TF at 60,87
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M5 Zeke x 40
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 9
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
Avenger I x 2
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-47C Thunderbolt x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Avenger I: 2 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
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Ken has put his heavies on naval attack and they try to cripple my damaged
cruisers. Fortunately the tough ships have managed to reach Rabaul and 22 Zeros
provide CAP.
Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 61,88
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
B-24D Liberator x 45
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Nachi, on fire
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 5, on fire
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For 2 crippled destroyers there is no hope..
Day Air attack on TF at 61,90
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 4
Kittyhawk I x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Kiyonami, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuroshio, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
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Day Air attack on TF at 61,90
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
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I have to look over my carrier air group disposition because only one major strike
was launched today. Too bad since there were lots of enemy targets left.
Anyway, our Zekes sacrifice sees the bombers through and a large Allied transport
convoy is shattered!
Day Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
A6M5 Zeke x 24
D3A Val x 45
B5N Kate x 71
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
P-38G Lightning x 7
P-47C Thunderbolt x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 21 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 7 destroyed
D3A Val: 2 damaged
B5N Kate: 12 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 5 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Menkar, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Joan Moller, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Alkaid, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Exmoor, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cushing, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Allioth, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Clevedon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Idaho
AK Hirondelle, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Proteus, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Needwood
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As predicted several Allied ships retreated from Gasmata and were easy pickings!
Day Air attack on TF at 59,91
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 17
B5N Kate x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AP Chaumont, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Monroe
Allied ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 7
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Day Air attack on TF at 59,91
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
AP Chaumont, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Monroe, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
SC SC-639, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
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Day Air attack on TF at 59,91
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AP President Monroe, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
SC SC-634, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
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I was worried about this large and unescorted strike, but the CAP fighters had
mostly depleted their ammo. The only surviver from the Oklahoma's battlegroup,
heavy cruiser San Francisco takes 5 torpedo hits and is left dead in the water.
Day Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 35
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
P-38G Lightning x 2
P-47C Thunderbolt x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 7 destroyed, 21 damaged
Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
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Only half of my naval bombers sortie and unfortunately they don't perform
all too well but another cruiser is hit by a torpedo!
Day Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 59,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G4M1 Betty x 12
G4M2 Betty x 27
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
P-38G Lightning x 2
P-47C Thunderbolt x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 6 destroyed
Allied Ships
APD Crosby
MSW Heed, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Canberra
APD McKean
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I sent some minelayers to mine Finschafen and they didn't clear the area quickly
enough and paid the price. The Allied bomber crews were unusually inefficient though.
Day Air attack on TF at 56,87
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 15
SBD Dauntless x 15
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 63
P-38G Lightning x 65
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
ML Ikitsushima, Bomb hits 3, on fire
ML Naryu
MSW W.9
DD Hayabusa
ML Nuwashima, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,87
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 44
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
ML Ikitsushima, on fire
DD Hayabusa, Bomb hits 1
ML Naryu
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Day Air attack on TF at 56,87
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 30
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
ML Ikitsushima, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hayabusa
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Ground Combat
Ground combat at Shortlands
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 7501 troops, 44 guns, 193 vehicles
Defending force 700 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 218 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
298 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
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Ground combat at Buin
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 8021 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 4814 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
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Situation Map: The sinking of the USS Oklahoma
Our Kongo battleships proved to be extremely potent weapons in the hands of
vice Admiral Yamamoto! Even though a bombardment mission dozens of enemy ships were
destroyed in addition to a very successful bombardment attack. Enemy 8" shells bounced of
the Kongo's side armour at 4000 yards. It was evident that the Oklahoma couldn't match our
elite crews in a night fight.
In all our gamble paid off! The enemy has been struck another blow and our own losses were
relatively light. I'm so pleased that non of my irreplacable cruisers were sunk! 4 of them received
a heavy beating, but should all reach Truk safely:
Ashigara 24/16/5
Mikuma 25/12/12
Myoko 33/30/19
Nachi 45/23/18
A destroyer division has been assigned to escort them back to Truk from Rabaul.
In all only 3 Japanese destroyers were lost today - and here is what the enemy had to pay:
Battleships Oklahoma
Heavy cruiser San Francisco
Light cruisers Denver and Colombia
5 destroyers
1 destroyer minesweeper
1 minesweeper
2 sub chasers
4 LCUs
5 PT boats
3 troop transport
7 cargo ships sunk/sinking
In addition a light cruiser was hit by a torpedo.
The cost in the air was higher, but expected:
97 Japanese ac were shot down in air to air combat (including 50 A6M2 Zeros).
42 Allied ac were shot down including 16 P-47s, 12 P-38 and 1 Corsair.
In all 108 Japanese and 67 Allied ac were destroyed today.
It's time to head back to base and regroup. I got a job to do regarding the carrier air groups. One 27 ac
A6M2 group was upgraded to the A6M5 today. My cruisers have taken a beating and need some time before
they again are able to sortie in strength - but they will. That's the most important thing
 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
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Printable Version
RE: Allies land at Shortland - 
Yes, I find this frustrating and not very 
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