Moondawggie tries to defeat the AI!

Moondawggie tries to defeat the AI! (Full Version)

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Moondawggie -> Moondawggie tries to defeat the AI! (5/27/2006 7:18:01 AM)
Scenario 25: Midway took place with historical losses, but the Japanese still long to expand into the SWPAC. It is now late July 1942. The Japanese have captured Gili Gili, Dobadura, and Lunga. An Australian counterinvasion at Gili Gili failed with severe casualties inflicted on the offloading Australian New Guinea Force; GG now remains in strong Japanese hands, and engineers are busy building up the ports and airfields there and at Lunga. The IJN has made two attempts to invade Port Moresby; both were repelled at sea. My naval strategy has been to keep my TFs well within range of allied LBA, close to Australia and Noumea, using PM’s land based air to soften up the advancing IJN units first, and then letting US carrier aircraft pounce. In 2 engagements to date, the Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Junyo were hit hard by USN aviators, and retreated north. The Zuiho was sunk, along with 2 BBs: Haruna and Kirishima. The IJN has also lost 5 CAs, 4 CLs, and 7 DDs, all victims of USN SBD dive bombers. By driving off the IJN carriers, the invasion transports were exposed; 36 IJN APs sank, many with their onboard troops; some while attempting to reinforce GG, some when sailing towards PM. During this series of dust-ups, the IJN nailed 3 of my AKs fleeing PM/landing troops at GG. Also, the IJN sent Saratoga to the bottom, and damaged Enterprise, Yorktown, and Lexington so badly they were sent back to Pearl. My only remaining available CV is Wasp; not much carrier airpower left to cover from PM to Luganville. Overall, though, the IJN has now lost 72 ships (1183) points; allies 13 ships (426 points). Land losses are nearly equal; 78 Japanese army loss points compared to 58 for the allies. The early air war has gone as expected: 290 allied planes have fallen in air to air combat; compared to 133 IJN. PM is a meatgrinder for the P-400s, P-39s, and other FBs forced into CAP roles, but airfield damage from Japanese bombing is minimal, and the garrison at PM has been reinforced by both C-47s and seaborne transports. Right now I hope to wage a “bushwhack” style of warfare against his transport assets, and to wound his surface and air combatants whenever possible, but avoid any direct pitched battles against his major combatants. Time is on my side, but right now he’s in the lead. Currently my subs are patrolling the narrows between GG and the reef system west of Rossel Island; a natural choke point for any further IJN moves towards PM. Hopefully they will give some early warning and perhaps pick off any retreating cripples if and when the Wasp pounces as her sisters did… To the east, fast transports and PBYs will try to set up a base at Irau, to bring Lunga within range of something besides B-17s from Luganville. The road to Tokyo runs through the Solomon chain. [image]local://upfiles/10410/D01E7626EE95428B81ACFF498DF2EE6E.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Something deadly this way comes... (5/27/2006 10:04:32 PM)
It's August 4, 1942. I've got a Marine para batallion and some Seabees landed at Irau; AF building is underway, and and AV is supporting a PBy squadron out of there. I'd like to get some VMFs up there soon to put a little hurt on the Japanese at Lunga on a daily basis. Some Marine SBDs just might make supply runs to Lunga uncomfortable as well. B-17s from Luganville hit the Lunga AF every other day; their brothers in Townsville do the same to GG. Subs out of Noumea have taken up station in the Slot, much to the chagrin of an IJN APD and PC, now resting comfortably at the bottom of Ironbottom Sound. The Wasp is at sea near Townsville with her escorts, refueling. To the North, an IJN carrier strike hit PM yesterday, sinking an SC and downing one P-39; one each zero, Val, and Kate were lost in the raid. Not much attrition yet, but every little bit helps. Strong zero/Betty raids out of Rabaul hit PM every day, killing my FBs, but hardly hurting the AF. The assualt strength of my troops at PM is now up to 818----any invasion there is going to be tough to pull off. Let's see if KB wants to close on PM. PM's medium bombers are licking their chops---maybe only one IJN carrier is available for this raid...if so, the Wasp TF might be getting some payback time pretty soon. [image]local://upfiles/10410/5514119A32EB45E786595DA3045F7C4C.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> No guts, no glory, no posthumous Navy Cross... (5/27/2006 10:49:07 PM)
8/4/05: KB heads towards PM, running through the narrows between GG and the reefs to the east. Who should be sitting there but SS-47, who promptly puts one fish into the Zuikaku, and then succumbs to 4 depth charges from the enraged escorts. [:-] KB is undeterred: she heads west towards PM, and launches a raid on the airfield there. Time for the Wasp to sting? [image]local://upfiles/10410/FD75EFCC55614D2F9DD204D9650EB932.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: No guts, no glory, no posthumous Navy Cross... (5/27/2006 11:36:17 PM)
8/5/06: Thunderstorms keep PMs attack planes grounded. Wasp rushes northeast, hoping to pin KB betwen PM and her own TF. KB is detected, and Wasp launches 21 F4Fs, 30 SBDs, and 12 TBFs. They find the Zuikaku and Shoho first, and hit Zuikaku with one 1000 pounder; Shoho takes it on the chin with 6 1000 pounders finding her thin decks; a huge secondary explosion from ammo storage means she's unlikely to make GG, let alone Truk. The CAs Tone and Chikuma each take a 1000 pounder as well. [:D] None of the Avengers score, however. KB strikes back, but Wasp's CAP and AA from the BB North Carolina, 4 CAs, and 4 CLAAs makes it tough...one torp from a Kate hits the Wasp, but she suffers no flotation damage (!!??!!?---maybe they used a surplus American torpedo when loading that Kate?) [8\|], and no fires; system damage overall is only 12, so she's still fit to fight. The CL Phoenix also eats a torp, and the CAs Salt Lake City and Quincy each take a bomb hit. Overall, the IJN loses 24 aircraft, the USN just 10. KB now hugs the coast of New Guinea between GG and PM, probably hoping that I'll rush in in to try my luck up close and personal. However, that would put me in range of Rabaul's LBA, and I don't have enough CAP to hold off 70 zeros and 40 Bettys, so I'll stay to his south. Wasp has 29 Wildcats and 20 SBDs, plus I transferred 12 VT-2 TBFs from PM to the Wasp; she only had one Avenger left operational after her strike on KB. That just might be enough to hurt Zuikaku some more. And there's always the sub gauntlet in the narrows off GG he'll have to run. Looks like we get to live in interesting times... [image]local://upfiles/10410/C5774B8447FC41E9B60FBCF3E5B70E9D.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Death in the Coral Sea (5/28/2006 12:30:06 AM)
8/6/42: Blows and counterblows Rabaul sends a massive raid to PM: 109 Zeros, 36 Bettys, 6 Nells. The airfield is lightly damaged, one zero falls in exchange for one Kittyhawk. PM lashes out at Shoho with its attack planes; Shoho receives another 14 bomb hits; she's not got much time left on the surface of the Coral Sea. Wasp attacks the Zuikaku; a secondary fuel explosion follows after 5 1000 pound bomb hits and one torpedo strike home, but not before KB sends out her own varsity Wasp killers: Despite 24 Wildcats on CAP against 10 zeros and 5 Vals, only 2 Vals are brought down at the cost of 4 F4Fs. The remining 3 Vals all hit the Wasp, with one 250 kg bomb hitting the hangar deck where an ammo explosion cooks off. The Wasp suffers 7 floatation damage, 24 fire damage, and 72 system damage; out of luck and low on speed at only 8 knots. She may make Cairns, but it will be close, and those long range Nells from rabaul must be licking their chops. With no CAP, and out of range for LR CAP, Wasp's fate hangs in the air. Zuikaku can't be in any better shape, though, and she still has to run the sub gauntlet. Maybe it's time for a USN high speed surface TF to try a night run off GG just to see what might be slowly trying to escape... [image]local://upfiles/10410/BAF255C2A6BC4A88A2B163215F584DFA.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Death in the Coral Sea (5/28/2006 1:06:40 AM)
8/7/42 Thunderstorms protect my surface forces which ran north in search of Zuikaku from the Bettys and Nells of Rabaul. My surface task forces don't find any hurting CVs, but they bump into some unprotected APs with tragic results for the transports. PM's medium bombers find Zuikaku off GG, and pummel it with 15 500 pound bomb hits. She has no CAP, seems to be moving slowly north, and I doubt she'll make Rabaul. Maybe my surface TFs will sniff her out on their way back to Oz; so far she's got one tough hull to be still staying afloat after receiving all those bombs and torps. [&o] No sign of Shoho; I doubt we'll see her again. [;)] Wasp slowly plods south; speed now 5 knots, fires coming under control, but survival will be a very near run thing. Not looking too good, all in all. [&:] Irau now has an airfield with VMF CAP; hopefully soon some Marine SBDs can make the waters around Lunga a bit more exciting for the Japanese transports visiting near Tulagi. [;)] [image]local://upfiles/10410/951207C7053B4659892035504E19017E.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Death in the Coral Sea (5/28/2006 1:39:38 AM)
8/8/06 A quiet, calm day in the Coral Sea. Wasp slows to 4 knots, still trying for Cairns---good Luck. Irau is now functional as a small airfield, and well stocked with F4Fs and SBDs. A P39 squadron will try its luck strafing the airfield at Lunga. PMs bobmbers hit the airfield at GG a good one, dismantling a few zeros on the ground. And, best of all...(How sweet it is!) [image]local://upfiles/10410/61995867CFEE4875AF642AC0C39CB706.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Death in the Coral Sea (5/28/2006 2:12:11 AM)
8/10/42 Wasp is down to only 2 knots; system damage is up to 90. Still, she is valiantly trying to make Cairns, so I won't scuttle her just yet. If she's lost, she still put paid a debt to the IJN by taking down Shoho and Zuikaku. Fortunately, the Enterprise has been refitted at Pearl, and will arrive in Noumea in about 10 days, so I won't be "carrierless" for any extended period of time. Rabaul and Kavieng's bombers are settling down into a nasty war of attrition with PMs fighters, and PM's bombers in turn keep ripping up the runway at GG, as well as feasting on nay IJN APs trying to resupply the garrison there. Irau now has a well supplied level 2 airfield, so some SBDs with escort visited the IJN APs offloading at Lunga...BOOM! However, Lunga is going to be a bitch to take---many INF, and about 5 CD batallions are located there. Forcing an opposed landing is going to eat up a lot of ships. [image]local://upfiles/10410/523EF621DACC4F4E9B0E34D149EB6FBA.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Is there some cold beer in Cairns? (5/28/2006 4:04:13 AM)
8/13/42 Every day rabaul sends 100+ zeros and 40+ Bettys and Nells to visit PM; every day the allies risk up in opposition, and every day the zeros come away with a 2-4:1 advantage. Still, PM's airfield is barely inconvenienced; its own medium bombers tear up GG's port and airfield with virtually no losses. Irau gets stronger; the IJN is wary of sending APs to Lunga; those that get injured by the marine SBDs have a rough time with the US subs positioned in the slot. The Wasp limps on; its now just one hex from Cairns....will it make it? The Sara was torpedoed here by long range Nells out of Rabaul; hopefully the LR Cap wirraways covering Wasp can prevent a repeat. [image]local://upfiles/10410/E165ABD9343F4FF38FEE350A05C5FDA5.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Is there some cold beer in Cairns? YES!!! (5/28/2006 4:33:03 AM)
8/14/42 Amazingly, Wasp safely docks in Cairns. Buckmaster's crew excels at damage control. All in all, this most recent "battle of the Coral Sea" turned out to be a lopsided win for the USN... [image]local://upfiles/10410/DBAB839C25F64BE7AEA438B251A152CE.jpg[/image]

martxyz -> RE: Is there some cold beer in Cairns? YES!!! (5/28/2006 11:58:30 AM)
Hi Moondawgggie, there is ALWAYS cold beer in Cairns. Well, there was 35 years ago! Well known, but old, TV advert: "Gold Top - Brewed in Cairns!". Can't say I remember it well. I was only 15 at the time though I'd know a Gold Top stubbie anywhere! Martin [:)]

Moondawggie -> Fast ships, big guns, and no aircover? (5/28/2006 9:25:30 PM)
Thanks for the tip, Martin. There was plenty of cold Swan beer available in Perth when our amphib squadron docked there after a float in the Indian Ocean in 1983. Glad to know Cairns has the same useful resources! 8/29/42: It's been quiet for the last 2 weeks, as both sides recover and refit after the most recent dust-up in the Coral Sea. Wasp is slowly (2 knots) making her way south with 90% system damage (zero flotation and fires) that couldn't be repaired at Cairns, heading to Brisbane and ultimately Noumea for a long refit in Pearl. I doubt that she'll be back before 1944 or 1945, but the road to Tokyo is a long one. Irau is now a level 2 port and level 3 airfield, and B-26s escorted by VMF F4Fs havve pounded Lunga daily. Minesweepers have been making runs from Irau to Lunga frequently; I'm hoping to throw the IJN a curve ball here, and get them to think an invasion of Lunga is imminent. [&:] My real hope is to take GG: daily recon there shows about 15000 INF and a few engineers, but no CD forces. Every day B-17s from Townsville and B-25s from PM hit GG, and any supply convoys trying to help those troops get pummeled. That outpost has to be low on supply and pretty disrupted. GG has proven to be quite a sink for IJN APs and escorts after they meet PMs attack aircraft. The 32nd and 41st divisions are loading up in Brisbane for the landing at GG. They will be backed up by PM's air, as well as Enterprise's CV TF, 2 bombardment TFs, and a small surface TF as well. But it seems the IJN is really torqued by PM. Look who just popped up in the Coral Sea after running the sub gauntlet east of GG. An IJN surface TF without organic air cover? Didn't they learn from the example of Prince of Wales and Repulse off Malaysia? I think the Enterprise air groups may want to pay a little visit to these uninvited guests.... [image]local://upfiles/10410/9F54086CB42B4A35BD3DC943FF781E17.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Fast ships, big guns, and no aircover? (5/28/2006 11:36:18 PM)
8/30/42

Moondawggie -> RE: Fast ships, big guns, and no aircover? (5/28/2006 11:38:07 PM)
8/30/42: Darn those Thunderstorms---they got away clean after bombarding PM. [X(] Enterprise never found them... [:@]

Moondawggie -> Fast ships, big guns, and no aircover redux (5/29/2006 1:04:24 AM)
9/5/42: If at first you do succeed... An IJN bombardment force is once again hauling for PM. Maybe this time I'll catch it! [:)] [image]local://upfiles/10410/572264F63BA84723B37D038693B1D403.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Fast ships, big guns, and no aircover redux (5/29/2006 1:12:40 AM)
9/6/42: Luck runs out in the Coral Sea. This time, aircraft from the Enterprise and PM catch the IJN Bombardment TF on their way into PM: Boom! Air attack on TF at 16,44 Allied aircraft (From Enterprise) F4F-4 Wildcat x 29 SBD Dauntless x 30 Japanese Ships CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2 BB Nagato, Bomb hits 3, on fire DD Hatsuyuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire Allied aircraft (from PM) SBD Dauntless x 60 TBF Avenger x 12 P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 P-40E Warhawk x 17 A-24 Dauntless x 14 B-25D Mitchell x 12 A-20B Havoc x 12 Japanese Ships BB Nagato, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire BB Yamato, Bomb hits 4 DD Kikuzuki, Bomb hits 1 CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage DD Asagiri, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Hatsuyuki, on fire DD Yayoi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied aircraft (Enterprise) F4F-4 Wildcat x 31 SBD Dauntless x 16 Japanese Ships BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2 DD Kamikaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage DD Hibiki, Bomb hits 1, on fire B-25D Mitchell x 3 Japanese Ships BB Yamato, Bomb hits 1 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 5 B-25D Mitchell x 6 Japanese Ships BB Nagato, Bomb hits 3, on fire [image]local://upfiles/10410/7D47C429916D400E8C6097F1D8572E70.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Gili Gili--The Allies Strike Back (5/29/2006 2:39:42 AM)
9/12/42: The allies head into their first invasion against an established japanese Base. Rabaul still has lots of zeros, but most raids only consist of 10-15 Bettys; hopefully they've been attritted enough not to contest my landings too badly. I wish the P-40s at PM had longer legs so they could provide LRCAP over GG; looks like that job will be up to Enterprise and the Beaufighters, though. Last surface dust-up in Coral Sea cost the IJN one cruiser and 2 DDs; hopefully their 2 injured BBs are still too torn up to run to GG. 2 full divisions will be landing soon. It's going to be interesting. [image]local://upfiles/10410/D388BBE376FB468FB19AD3660D7768AB.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Ouch! (5/29/2006 3:20:25 AM)
9/13/42 Landings at GG begin. Rabaul's air strikes hard. The Enterprise takes 9 ('count 'em, 9!) torps, and sinks, killing Admiral Mitscher. [:@] I'm out of viable carriers for now; Wasp is nearing Noumea and then embarking on her long trip back to Pearl. The invasion TFs and covering surface TFs won't budge from GG, though, and none of them were injured. The only LR CAP covering the invasion fleet at GG is a few Beaufighters, who were badly mauled by the zeros during yesterdays raids. 9/14 promises to be a bear, but I really want GG to close off the Coral Sea once and for all. Some good news, though---Junyo and Shoho are now confirmed sunk, so the capital ship losses to date are US 2 CV, 1 CVE; IJN 2 CV, 2 CL, 7 CA, 5 CL. Looks like the naval war is going to be chiefly fought by land based air and surfaces forces for a while. [image]local://upfiles/10410/F4B5BB03213B45A88CFE3CA4A405D4C3.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Gili Gili update (5/29/2006 4:17:01 AM)
9/14/42: Admiral Kinkaid and the invasion fleet gamely offload their troops; Rabaul's bettys and Nells raise a ruckus, and an IJN force of 6 DDs try to bushwack the transports at night. Someone forgot to tell them about the CA surface force still loitering in GG's harbor. For once at night the USN got the jump on some very surprised tin can sailors... Night Time Surface Combat, near Gili Gili at 17,42 Japanese Ships DD Yugumo, Shell hits 50, and is sunk DD Makinami, Shell hits 4, on fire DD Kagero DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Arashio, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 31, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships CA Louisville, Shell hits 1 CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1 CA San Francisco CA Quincy, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CA Canberra, on fire CLAA Atlanta CLAA Juneau CLAA San Diego CLAA San Juan DD Walke DD Bagley DD Blue DD Mugford DD Henley DD Patterson DD Sterett DD Gridley DD Maury DD Drayton DD Smith DD Preston DD Dunlap DD Tucker DD Balch Japanese ground losses: Men lost 61 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat at 0,0 Japanese Ships DD Makinami, Shell hits 11, and is sunk DD Kagero, Shell hits 17, and is sunk DD Amatsukaze, and is sunk DD Shirayuki, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Louisville, Shell hits 1 CA Pensacola CA San Francisco CA Quincy, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CA Canberra, on fire CLAA Atlanta CLAA Juneau CLAA San Diego CLAA San Juan DD Walke DD Bagley DD Blue DD Mugford DD Henley DD Patterson DD Sterett DD Gridley DD Maury DD Drayton DD Smith DD Preston DD Dunlap DD Tucker DD Balch Japanese ground losses: Men lost 172 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 SBD Dauntless x 76 TBF Avenger x 11 Beaufighter VIC x 9 P-39D Airacobra x 9 P-40E Kittyhawk x 10 P-40E Warhawk x 23 no losses Japanese Ships AP Shinko Maru, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AP Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage Japanese ground losses: Men lost 10 Guns lost 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 41 A6M3 Zero x 26 G3M Nell x 4 G4M1 Betty x 3 Allied aircraft Beaufighter VIC x 3 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell x 1 damaged G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Beaufighter VIC x 1 damaged Allied Ships AP Westralia AP McCawley, Torpedo hits 1, on fire Attacking Level Bombers: 4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet 3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 A6M3 Zero x 22 G4M1 Betty x 7 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed G4M1 Betty x 6 damaged Allied Ships AK Electra, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Cummings, Torpedo hits 1, on fire Allied ground losses: Men lost 27 Attacking Level Bombers: 2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet 3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Gili Gili Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 530 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 34303 troops, 325 guns, 53 vehicles LTJG T.Jordan of VP-11 bails out and is RESCUED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [image]local://upfiles/10410/FD0195DFD5D741669ABE74F210BC555E.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Gili Gili falls (5/29/2006 4:50:55 AM)
9/16/42: An allied deliberate attack captures GG. The airfield is intact, but the port is badly (88%) damaged. Time to offload the remianing troops and supplies, and shock attack the surving Japanese. Rabaul's Betty and Nell strength is getting weaker; the CLAAs tore them up today. [image]local://upfiles/10410/38F8EBC8EA6A41498F8C3735B6795060.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Strategic Intitiative changes hands? (5/29/2006 9:18:12 PM)
9/21/42: GG is consolidated; the last of the defending Japanese troops are eliminated. GG is now a fully functioning port and airfield, with its own CAP provided by USAAF P-40s and USN F4Fs, as well as SBDs and TBFs to pound on any IJN surface assets who might want to come to vist. the Coral Sea is now pretty much an American lake, except for the occasional IJN sub who wanders in. [:)] By taking GG, PM is now (I believe) safe from any IJN raids. As such, it has now changed from a vulnerable defensive outpost to an offensive base. The Australian 3rd division is moving by land from PM over the Owen Stanley mountains towards Buna; recon suggests that the Japanese garrison there consists of only one or two batallions, so it should fall to a land attack fairly easily (I don't want to invade by sea; Rabaul's bettys and nells ended the GG campaign by taking down the Enterprise, one CA, one CL, and put a torp into BB North Carolina (the latter is docked and repairing 25% flotation damage in Townsville. System damage is only 25%, her speed is still 21 knots, so she probably won't have to be sent back to Pearl.) Numerous DDs, APs, and AKs also sank from those damn air-dropped long lance torpedos. [:(] The other nice thing about making PM safe from bombardment is that I can now move my B-17s up from Townsville, and have them hit the airfield at Rabaul. (Give 'till it hurts!) Zeros don't do well at high alrtitudes against massed flying fortresses, and the air war of attrition heats up. [;)] More interesting are developments in the Solomons. Lunga is strongly defended according to my recon: the 5 coastal defense units there would rip apart any APs and AKs offloading troops (see image below), so I'm moving the 1st Marine Division by fast transport to Taivu Point, just east of Lunga. Once I get both the 1st MARDIV and the Americal landed and supplied there, I'll attack Lunga overland---lots of room for armor to maneuver, and his CD guns will become just some more artillery (maybe limited to only pointing out to sea, where they can't support the Japanese INF). Meanwhile, B-26s out of Irau will hit Lunga daily; PT boats from Irau will visit Lunga nightly, and the SBDs and F4Fs will play havoc in the local skies. Gato class pigboats lurk in the Slot, making reinforcement of the Lunga garrison a real bitch for the Tokyo Express. Onward.... [image]local://upfiles/10410/CB08FF6214464E1982EA413C69057186.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Strategic Intitiative changes hands? (5/30/2006 2:27:33 AM)
9/24/42: The Japanese army doesn't like having visitors drop in at Taivu Point, so 7,000 infantrymen march east one hex from Lunga to demand the Marines go back home. However, they have no armor, and the USMC, disturbed by this callous lack of hospitality, shock attacks at 2:1 odds, inflicting 800 Japanese casualties at the cost of 180 Marines. The Japanese have no air support or attached antiaircraft batteries, so B-26s, P-39s, and SDBs from Irau practice close air support under Taivu's laboratory conditions. More Marines land nightly via fast transport along with supplies. It will be time to hit again with a deliberate attack tomorrow; since the resupply and reinforcement of Lunga is effectively interdicted, every Japanese trooper put away now is one fewer left to dig out of Lunga later on. [image]local://upfiles/10410/E09212502EC4497088614CE7ED94E437.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Strategic Intitiative changes hands? (5/30/2006 3:37:50 AM)
9/27/42: Japan seems to think Taivu point is crucial (see image below). The USMC continues to eat away at the Japanese troopers with deliberate attacks, and the Japanese keep moving troops in. And the Americal is just landing in Irau, soon to be lifted onto Taivu. Almost like the real Guadalcanal experience... The IJN transports are taking a shellacking from Irau's air---he's going to run out of sealift at this rate. [image]local://upfiles/10410/D2E6F48C588B4080907AC033D9401573.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Or maybe not? (5/30/2006 7:41:00 AM)
10/01/42: Taivu promises to be a pivotal "schwerpunkt" for land forces of both sides (see image below). Despite my best efforts at interdiction, Japan continues to pour troops into that hex---now well over 20,000 INF, plus artillery and vehicles (tanks?). They haven't attacked yet, and I've made a few desultory deliberate attacks and bombardment attacks to keep their heads down, and their C&C broken. My local Irau attack air daily sends unopposed aircraft (including now over 100 B-26s) every day to disrupt them. My SBDs and PT boats have made artificial reefs offshore from Lunga out of the AGs and DDs who dared to try to resupply that base (hey---great scuba opportunity for tourists 60 years from now!). The Gato boats in the Slot feast on the wounded leftovers struggling back to Shortland. I wish I had more fighters to put a continuous LR CAP over Lunga's airfield, but I don't; I have to rely on TBDs to keep putting holes in the runways there to slow down any potential Topsy transports trying to land troopps and supplies. Japan still hasn't been able to station either fighters or attack aircraft at Lunga, and what few Betty raids that have come down as far as Taivu and Irau have been unescorted and savaged by the F4F and P-40 CAP out of Irau. All in all, Taivu Point looks pretty much like a "shoestring" operation for both sides, and could go either way. But I've got local air and surface force superiority to support the expedition, with plenty of supply coming in daily, so I'm optimistic. And the Americal should start landing there within the week...Meanwhile, I'm trying to build fortifications like crazy! Still no sign of the IJN's major surface or air combatants---haven't located anything bigger thatn a DD in weeks; I surmise he's (at least for now) licking his CV, BB, and CA wounds back in Truk. I know that I am in Noumea and Pearl. Time will tell. PM's B-17s have been wrecking the occasional zero and Val on the ground at Rabaul, and his long-range raids have been getting weaker lately. Maybe the heavies are finally having an effect. The Australian 3rd Division is making slow but steady progress towards Buna. With any luck, they should arrive there about the same time the Taivu struggle reaches its' climax, and make him divide up any seaborne response. [image]local://upfiles/10410/5E5C38377A5640E4A054725757EB0CF4.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Shoestring: The Taivu Point Schwerpunkt (6/1/2006 6:54:25 AM)
10/9/42: A war of attrition rages in the Solomons. Both the 1st MarDiv and the Americal Divisions have safely landed via fast transport out of Irau at Taivu Point along with support forces and adequate supplies. 2 tank battallions, some engineer units, seabees (one of my own old outfits!) and lots of base forces provide support; fortifications are up to 4, with a level 1 port, but no airfield as yet. I've moved PM's B-17s to Luganville, where they pound the Japanese forces at taivu, along with Irau's shorter legged B-26s. Lunga's port is at 88% damaged courtesy of Irau's SBDs and TBFs. USAAF P-39s and P-400s gain valuable experience attacking the Taivu INF (they should be frighteningly experienced when they ultimately get to upgrade to P-38s. (Zeros be forewarned!) No IJN APs have been able to reach Lunga or Buna and make a return trip; so far the IJN has lost ~89 APs to the allies 6 AP/AKs sunk. Supply must be a problem for the Japanese troops on the front lines... A series of deliberate attacks at Taivu have reduced the Japanese INF by about 6,000 effectives; we've been exchanging casualities at a rate of 1000-1500 per day for the Japanese, versus about 180 per day for the US. As the Incredible Hulk used to say, it's clobberin' time! [image]local://upfiles/10410/0E1C48C1C87F42B294C19BFC44896091.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> RE: Shoestring: The Taivu Point Schwerpunkt (6/2/2006 5:51:24 AM)
10/11/42: B-17s from Luganville, B-26s from Irau, and deliberate attacks on the Japanese at Taivu Point have cost the Japanese about 7000 men from the 38th Division, according to intel. He's getting weaker! [image]local://upfiles/10410/FEC1056C20D64186B6947B51CA26AA0B.jpg[/image]

Moondawggie -> Meanwhile in Papua NG... (6/2/2006 5:56:49 AM)
10/12/42 The 3rd Australian Division reaches Buna, and then makes a shock attack against the 800 surprised Japanese NLF garrison troops there. Buna falls! On Guadacanal, the Japanese forces withdraw under fire to Lunga, abandoning their attack against my beachhead on Taivu Point.. The 1st Mar Div and the Americal drive towards Lunga, but don't contact the fleeing Japanese... Hey---maybe the shock pursuit model really does suck! Shades of WITP's "griper fanboy!"

Moondawggie -> RE: Meanwhile in Papua NG... (6/2/2006 6:07:31 AM)
10/20/42 The 1st Mar Div and the Americal continue their relentless drive towards Lunga. In a surprise amphibious assault, fast transports from Irau land SOPACs 112th Cav Reg on Tulagi, much to the dismay of 850 astonished IJN NLF garrison troops. Right before dawn on nthe day of the landing, an allied Bombardment group led by the BB Washington, the CA Northhampton, and the CL Boise run across an IJN surface task force of cruisers and DDs transiting Tulagi, apparently aiming to rough up up the transports offloading supplies nearby at Taivu. It seems that 16" guns pack a bit more power than the IJN's 8-inchers on their CAs; every IJN ship is badly damaged; one CA sinks, and 5 IJN DDs also grace the floor of Ironbottom Sound. 4 US DDs and 2 CLAAs will slowly head to Noumea and Pearl for refitting, but only one USN DD sinks...

Moondawggie -> Back around Guadacanal... (6/2/2006 6:10:03 AM)
10/22/42 The 112th CAV shock attacks Tulagi; the Japanese lose 800+ troopers, and Tulagi now flys the Stars and Stripes.

Moondawggie -> RE: Back around Guadacanal... (6/2/2006 6:23:05 AM)
10/28/42 THe 1st Mar Div and the Americal reached Lunga a few turns ago. The BB Washington's bombardment TF visits Lunga nightly, and B-17s, B-26s, SBDs, and TBFs vist the Japanese troops during the day. A series of deliberate attacks have reduced Lunga's fortifications to zero. Tomorrow a shock attack should drive the Japanese off the Island for good. No sign of any IJN surface or air combat TFs---they must be badly beat up right now. In New Guinea, one of my P-400 squads upgrades to the P-38----suddenly Japanese LBA escorted raids out of Rabaul start losing 2 planes for each allied aircraft downed over GG, instead of the inverse. You gotta love those fork-tailed devils... [image]local://upfiles/10410/C0B61F4AC91947D48D92375F8C562B6C.jpg[/image]

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