11 October 1942

11 October 1942 (Full Version)

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Rob Roberson -> 11 October 1942 (5/26/2002 10:51:17 AM)
Seems like a simple insult was all it took to motivate those army pilots at New Guinea. P-39 pilots out of Gili attacked and struck the Junyo with at least one bomb. The pilots claim the bomb caused secondary explosions staggering the carrier. If true, this would be a major coup with Landshark just 4 days away and the carrier balance would be close to even. (My intelligence believes there is one Japanese fleet carrier and one light carrier in theatre). Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 11 October 1942

Ron Saueracker -> Why not just take Rabaul? The odds are "favourable." (5/26/2002 3:45:17 PM)
Let me see. You do not have command of the sea or the air. Lunga is a big bastard airbase right next door to your only hope at salvation within SOPAC (San Cristobal) and is overlapped by air from Shortlands and Rabaul. My guess is you are outnumbered everywhere. How are the Shortlands ripe for the picking? The suicide bases in the central Slomons and Kiriwina are reckless enough. If you attempt this, you are condemning the Marines to an early, senseless death. How do you propose to supply them once on the beach, given your earlier statement that you barely can scratch together merc bottoms as it is? Where will the requisite LBA cover come from? Offense is usually the best defense, I agree, but you have to have the puck. Nimitz will have your *** if you don't consolidate and pursue a more measured approach. Make Lunga a living hell for the Japs by using LBA to isolate it to the point of starvation. You have the advantage here (and you don't have many), as long as you can bomb the crap outta the airfield and mine the western approaches (I'm assuming Rabaul based LBA can't hit Irau). Make him come to you and make him pay for that effort. His CVs will show up sooner or later, and it is best if they do under your terms and conditions of advantage, not in No Man's Land. Be patient or suffer defeat. Don't hand the AI the game by screwing around in his backyard, especially as there seems to be little possible gain (should read zero, zilch, nadda) achievable by doing so. And don't forget....losing to the AI is a most shameful outcome. :D Just my two cents worth while patientlly friggin' waiting for friggin' UPS to friggin' deliver my copies of UV.:mad: ;) :D :rolleyes:

Ron Saueracker -> Oh, and don't forget.... (5/26/2002 3:50:11 PM)
Keep mum about "not paying attention to the losses" up to this point in the campaign when on the carpet with Nimitz. He hates stuff like that.:D

Rob Roberson -> :) (5/26/2002 4:51:05 PM)
I don't believe the situation is quite as desperate as all of that. Lunga is cut off. Its a big airbase, but given the number of planes I see coming out everyday, I think he is having a hard time keeping it supplied. (I see him pushing unescorted APs through my ring of subs...to me...thats a sign of no spare warships and desperation.). I have built up enough transport capacity again to suffer hideous losses in the shortland operation and still keep the Marines supplied. Is this hard on my navy crews...you bet it is. If you want this job you had better be willing to take risks to succeed. That being said if Shortlands goes and I believe the Solomons goes with it. I see him getting more and more desperate. I have noticed in the last two weeks (prior to the recent resurgence of Japanese carriers) he is doing nothing navy wise. It's clear to me..(well I believe anyway) that he was hurt as badly as I was during the North Coral Seas campaigns. Shortlands a gamble...yes it is...am I hoping for a bit of luck...right again. But I think that the time is now to strike him and strike him hard. I am very concerned about his carriers, but they have been at sea for a while they have to be short on fuel...and Shortlands has been closed by army air as a port. Even if this campaign fails...and I think its 60/40 right now he has to commit more resources to fight me off... and I have them to spare over the long haul..unlike him. Oh and one more thing ;) if Nimitz had wanted a caretaker in the South Pacific ...he would of appointed Ghormley...:D

Rob Roberson -> 12 October 1942 (5/26/2002 4:59:29 PM)
Those Japanese carriers are everywhere. I have begun to suspect that my Army pilots may have been a wrong about the amount of damage to the carrier they claim to of hit. My search planes have not seen a carrier split off from the main force and the main force is too agile to have been slowed by a damaged sister. Carrier air attacked Gili in the morning went north and attacked my Marines on Vila. They have now positioned themselves between Shortlands and my task groups. Spruance is heading west towards the Japanese in Hornet. As Hornet goes so goes Landshark. If Spruance can at least hurt the Japanese carriers in the exchange they will have to withdrawal and I can move forward. If not...I then I will delay the operation until the enemy carriers have cleared the area. I am interested in hurting the enemy, but I will not send unescorted surface ships against enemy carrier air. Dive bombers from Kiriwina continue to interdict shipping along the New Britain coast. My pilots are reporting a large number of merchants moving in and out of Gasmata. When Admiral Nimitz and his staff arrive they want to visit San Cristabol. I have advised against it given the fact that it is in range of Japanese air out of Lunga...to which the Admiral replied... "perfect." Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 12 October 1942

Rob Roberson -> By the way Ron (5/26/2002 5:42:33 PM)
I love the comments...I have made more then one change in my operations due to the comments of my "staff". Keep them coming. Rob

Rob Roberson -> 13 October 1942 (5/26/2002 6:35:57 PM)
Battle of New Georgia Spruance and Hornet launched his strikes as the sun was coming over the horizon. Based on reports from both land based air and a submarine sighting, he was pretty sure he knew where the Japanese flattops where. The problem was. The Japanese KNEW where he was. Hornets planes found and smashed the Junyo. 4 bomb and 1 torpedo hit did what the Army claimed they had done, staggered her. A pilot out of VB-6 made a very disturbing report. There wasnt 1 CV and 1 CVL, there were 2 CVs and a CVL. Hornet was out numbered significantly. The intelligence failure cost Spruance dearly. 8 bomb hits and two torpedos left Hornet dead in the water ablaze. Hornet's last communication was that they were attempting to counter flood, but did not think they could save the ship. An hour later Long Island was attacked by Kate's and was struck once. If we did in fact hurt Junyo as badly as we hope then the battle goes from decisive loss, to not quite as decisive of a loss. The loss of the Hornet pushes the naval balance back into the Japanese favor. Without carrier air I am forced to react to what he is doing. He knows it, I know it. I have decided to withdraw Landshark south until I make a decision on whether this is to be a delay or a cancellation of the operation. Needless to say, Admiral Nimitz and I will have a great deal to discuss. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 13 October 1942

Sinjen -> Every Island a potential Carrier (5/26/2002 8:58:41 PM)
It looks like your going to have to use island bases as a permanent carrier force and make your LBA force the issue. At this point it and your much faster reinforcement in planes are your biggest advantage.

Ron Saueracker -> Rob (5/26/2002 11:36:24 PM)
I'm attempting to influence player intel on my strategic makeup. Once they believe I'm a conservative freak, aka "caretaker":D , I'll be in Tokyo Bay in 43. Muwhaaaahahahaaaa..... I've always been a bit conservative with strategic level games, with the exception being games such as Panzer Armee Afrika where the fluidity of the theatre and combat therein requires boldness and, at times, reckless abandon. I'm kinda conservative on the tactical level, too. Hell, you should see me play Close Combat on the net. I don't lose often, but people think I'm a bit boring....until of course all those carefully concealed maneuvers and feints reach fruition and the crap hits the fan for them. I have found that most players get a little anxious and make premature decisions, most of which prove fatal. With this game, I have to agree with Mogami. When playing the Allies, as long as Japan has the trump cards (superiority in CVs), the Allies would be wise to ride it out and wait for opportunities that are advantageous prior to committing to a carrier battle or any other offensive action of any real size. The same goes for the Japs if, let's say Coral Sea is attempted prior to the arrival of more carriers and the IJN CVs meet their fate early in an unlucky exchange of blood and fire. Any major operation would be at risk without adequate CV forces. I'm not talking about local superiority granted by enemy CVs being in port to rest and refit for a few weeks either. That is not an advantage, as they will pound you later, as opposed to now. As long as they are afloat or in theatre, caution is the better part of valor. Rob, you said Lunga is isolated given it's location and so near to your base at Irau(?). That being true, how would you define a fledgling Allied base in the Shortlands with no LBA or CV support? You might have the balls big enough to sport their own gravitational pull (and even a willing honey), but if ya can't afford a room, what's the point?;) Hmmmm, where did that come from?:D All this being said (or spewed forth), you are playing the AI. I see from the opponents wanted thread that you've a few PBEM opponents. You will naturally embrace the conservative side, Luke. Unless of course, they regularily lose to the AI. Ahuh, ahuh, ahuh...:D Yours, babblingly. Ron. PS. If a certain package came in the mail, I wouldn't be harassing anyone on these forums. First it was Kid, now you. Both of you will soon be able to kick my butt soon as punishment for my interuptions of your gaming pleasure. Should not have ended my last relationship until UV arrived. At least I'd have something to do.:p

Rob Roberson -> 14 October 1942 (5/27/2002 4:51:52 AM)
I have canceled Landshark. Without carrier air I do not feel like I can protect my Marines from Landbase air out of Shortland or Rabaul. I have ordered air offensive operations to stand down in New Guinea. My bomber pilots are exhausted from their constant pounding of Shortland. All surface forces associated with Landshark are returning to Noumea. As long as that enemy carrier group is in area (last reported just outside "the slot") there is nothign I can do but bide my time. I intend to rotate all my pilots from San Cristobal for fresh ones. Marine dive bombers and fighters will continue the work of the army and navy pilots at enforcing the blockade. My submarine forces report more and more Japanese transports are getting tangled in the many minefields we have laid. I have a destroyer transport force steaming for my marine paratroopers at Vila. They will bring supplies and Navy seabees to start construction of another "unsinkable" carrier there. When complete more marines. pilots will be stationed there. Admiral Chester Nimitz has arrived at my command and we will begin a two day conference. Happily he hasn't fired me. Yet. His willingness to let his admirals make mistakes and learn from them is a relief. On the job training. The loss of the Hornet, big as it is does not effect my belief that the Japanese can be beaten on Guadalcanal through attrition. No landings will be necessary. I intend to land on perimeter islands...build airfields and dominate the Solomons that way. I still believe Shortlands was ready to be taken, but I will not send my Marines into an area that I cannot cover landing ships with air power. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 14 October 1942

Rob Roberson -> 15 October 1942 (5/27/2002 6:07:34 AM)
Nimitz opened the meeting:"The purpose of my visit is to inform myself and the members of my staff with the conditions in the Sopac/SWpac areas; and to inform myself on the problems of Admiral Roberson. We will begin the conference by having Roberson outline the situation in the Sopac area..." Roberson: As you know, we are now occupying San Cristobal and Vila. San Cristobal has become a major fighter/bomber hub that has allowed us to interdict Japanese shipping to Guadalcanal. We have established a ring of mines, submarines and airpower around the island. Unfortunetly the circle is not complete and the Japanese are still getting in and supplying Guadalcanal. I believe that level bombers are now on the island and that represents the greatest threat to shipping throughout Sopac. Nimitz: The reasons for not occupying the island ahead of the Japanese? Roberson: Frankly, logistics at the time. We simply did not have the warships/transports to cover both the Gili Gili invasion and to eject the Japanese from their toe hold at Guadalcanal. If you will recall we suffered heavy losses in transports and that forced us to make a decision where to send the weight of our forces. We felt that if we did not retake Gili from the enemy then Port Moresby would fall and with that the Northern Australian coast would fall under severe threat. I believe that a combination of air and naval forces can isolate Guadalcanal and end the threat there. Nimitz: What would you need to succeed? Roberson: submarine forces...all that you can possible make available to the area. They continue to hammer enemy forces passing through on their way to Guadalcanal. The enemies losses have to be great. We also don't see a lot of warships escorting these transport runs. I feel that is due to a lack of escort vessels in the area. I also fully intend to build a fighter base at Vila with the Marines I have there. I feel the unsinkable island bases stocked with Naval air can make up for our lack of carriers in this area. I consider both San Cristabol and Vila our greatest assets in theatre and will do what ever is necessary to defend them. Nimitz: Update me on the Southwest pacific. What are your intentions there? Roberson: As you know we continue to hold the our prewar postions on New Guinea. Our greatest threat there comes from land based air out of Rabaul. We are routinely seeing 100 bomber raids. This must be stopped. Our fighter base at Kiriwina is operation and has begun to interdict shipping along New Britain and into Lae. This has released my submarine forces which are now enroute to the Solomons. This has also released my bomber command at Port Moresby from interdiction duty to what I feel army pilots are best suited for. In two days I will begin to attack Rabaul from the air with massed raids from B-17s. That is our best hope to wrest air superiority over this region. We do not dare try any naval landing in New Guinea as long as the enemy can send 100 Betty bombers against us on any given day. Nimitz: Gentlemen we need a victory somewhere and soon. The Japanese still have the momentum of an unchecked offensive, they have the morale, and they have the bases from which to operate. There simply are no free carrier forces for you here. You must make due with what you have. I will arrange to get you more air forces in theatre as well as submarines, but I expect results and soon. With that Admiral Nimitz boarded a PBY bound for San Cristobal.

Rob Roberson -> 21 October 1942 (5/27/2002 8:18:57 AM)
It's been nearly a week since CinCPac's visit. The air campaign is underway in New Guinea. SO far the results there are mixed. The army just doesnt seem to be able to hack it. I will continue to press the air generals for ways to make the level bombers more effective. After almost two weeks of heavy operations the Japanese carrier group seems to of left the area. If it is true I can finally resume my own operations in the Solomons. The Japanese airfield at Guadalcanal can best be described as huge. More then 120 planes according to the latest intel. I have built up a fighter dome of 60 planes at San Cristobal. I will use them to cover a battleship surface action group that is due to arrive in the Solomons in two days. Now that the carrier air is gone, its time to again visit hell on the Japanese at Guadalcanal. Every submarine in theatre is now congregating on the area. Supply ships might get through...but they will pay a price. I know believe that we will pay a heavier price for not taking Guadalcanal then we would have if Gili had remained in Japanese hands. I will continue with my blockade policy there, but as long as supplies leak through it will not be effective. The South Dakota battlegroup arrived recently. Two battleships should be enough to reduce the airfield as long as I can protect her on her way in. If CinCPac is able to get more submarines here and more aircraft I still feel that we can beat the Japanese at Guadalcanal, but it will be a long campaign there. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 21 October 1942

Rob Roberson -> 23 October 1942 (5/27/2002 9:33:07 AM)
A huge air battle for control of the skies over Irau, San Cristobal occured today. More then 100 Japanese planes out of Lunga tangled with 70 Navy fighters. Fortunetly, my chief of staff forecast this happening and I had moved enough fighters (stripping the area of bombers) into place to combat the Japanese. My pilots claimed more then 20 kills. 18 of American pilots failed to return. Apparently the Japanese have decided to put Irau out of business. It will be an interesting contest to see who wins the race to shut down airfields. In the interest of this contest Vice Admiral Carpender's South Dakota group continues to steam north towards Guadalcanal. She should pick up friendly land CAP in the next day. I hope it's enough to keep her safe until she can get too the airfield at Guadalcanal. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 23 October 1942

Rob Roberson -> 28 October 1942 (5/27/2002 11:02:38 AM)
B-17 raids over Rabaul appear to be having an affect. Japanese bomber raids are down over Gili. Of course have P-38s there doesnt hurt. In two days of fighting over Gili the army is claiming 20 Betty kills. 3 days of battleship bombardment is also hurting the Japanese on Guadalcanal. My recon is reporting the airfield operating at just 60 percent. Speaking of recon. The Army had been reconing Rebaul now for 2 weeks. Yesterday's photo missions showed a big Japanese transport group assembling in the harbor. More then 30 B-17s pounded the harbor and crewmembers said many pillars of smoke could been seen as they departed, no doubt from many transports settling in the surf. Patience continues to be the key right now. No new units have come from Pearl since the South Dakota arrived. My hope remains that I can get subs and planes... Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 28 October 1942

Ron Saueracker -> Vice Admiral Carpender? (5/27/2002 11:15:22 AM)
Was he not some staff officer on mainland Australia? I think he was in charge of Mac's naval forces for a while, and used to piss off Lockwood, Fife, and Christie by medling in sub affairs. What is he doing on sea duty? What officers are available, can anyone tell me? Commanders like Leahy are not available, are they? Is Halsey available for that matter? How are leaders graded? Is it done by rating their war performance? If so, how is Carpender rated, and is based on what?

Rob Roberson -> 1 November 1942 (5/28/2002 3:59:06 AM)
The airwar in the Pacific is continuing with all the fury both sides can muster. The Japanese continue to pound Gili on a daily bases. Having discovered that the enemy doesnt like P-38 fighters (they have claimed 42 betty kills in 3 days) he has switched to the less effective night bombing. My bombers have struck the port of Shortland with devastating results. The attacks left 2 cruisers and several destroyers burning. The number of planes rising out of Guadalcanal continues to shrink. My Battleships did not attack the base today, they are headed south to replenish their ammo supply, but several days of attacks have no doubt devasted the airfield. Of course everytime the enemies planes rise from the airfield they are immediately set upon by a wall of Wildcat fighters out of San Cristobal. All in all the overall air campaign is going well. New Zealand engineers arrived at Vila today (the transport they were on limped into the harbor after an attack by bettys) construction on that airfield will begin soon. Other then the occasional airstrike the enemy ignores the troops that are there. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 1 November 1942

Rob Roberson -> 4 November 1942 (5/28/2002 8:05:06 AM)
Three days of heavy fighting in and around the waters of Guadalcanal has left "ironbottom sound" with new occupants, mostly Japanese. A major supply attempt by the Japanese kicked off the action. The USS Long Island sank this morning the victim of Aerial Torpedos, South Dakota also caught one but she is still in the action. My submariners are having a field day as the enemy continues to try to force unescort transports through the blockade. If my submariners don't get them then they get hung in my minefields. I have divided my surface ships into three bombardment groups to keep constant pressure on the field at Guadalcanal. It is still dangerous, as proven by the sinking of the Long Beach, but it is operating at a reduced capacity. My airbase has opened at Vila. Surprisingly there have been no enemy attempts to close it. I can only wonder where the Japanese navy is. New Guinea is all but silent now. THe army is not flying again they are more testy then a woman. I have reached the point where I never know when the air generals are actually going to send they planes out...they get around to it eventually. If I could I would assign an admiral to run the area....call it the McArthur syndrome. I feel like for the first time I am winning the campaign. The lack of naval activity on the enemies part is bouying that. I am once again in the planning stages for a landing at Shortlands. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 4 November 1942

Rob Roberson -> 5 November 1942 (5/28/2002 9:50:55 AM)
Battle of Tassfonga/Savo Island A Japanese cruiser detachment ran into Vice Admiral Carpender's Bombardment group off Savo Island just after midnite. Neither side saw each other until both forces had closed to 4000 yards. At that point, the Heavy Cruiser Aoba fired on the Washington. The searchlights from the cruisers Quincy and Indianapolis quickly caught Aoba and followed with broadsides from their guns which left Aoba burning and dead in the water. She rolled over and sank within minutes of the opening of the battle. The Cruiser Nachi and Oi quickly came about and tried to flee the area, Oi made it, but Nachi was struck repeatedly by Carpender's pursuing task group and limped away heavily damaged and burning. Carpender then set upon a big Japanese transport group about an hour later sinking 5 of them. The Vice Admiral decided his forces had done enough good work one night he retired south without bombarding the airfield. Later that evening a torpedo boat group led by Lt Jack Kennedy suprised and attacked 5 transports at Tassfonga. In the short sharp action two of the tranports suffered torpedo hits (both later sank). One of the transports collided with PT 111 sinking her. Japanese bombers attacked Vila, the heaviest attack there since the outpost was setup. It seems that the Japanese have finally recognized it as a major threat. The heavy transport losses at Guadalcanal have to be hurting the enemy. Recon has not proven useful on the island regarding the state of the troops there. I am considering landing a detachment of Navy frogmen there to see if they can determine it for me. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 5 Movember 1942

Ron Saueracker -> USS Long Beach? (5/28/2002 10:29:49 AM)
Hey Rob, good to here the war goes well. What is the Long Beach?

Rob Roberson -> USS Long Beach (5/28/2002 10:53:32 AM)
A LST from the 80s...should of been Long Island my CVE...thats what the staff is for to catch errors, thanks.

Hartmann -> (5/28/2002 2:25:22 PM)
Just wanted to confirm that I�m still reading avidly. :) Somehow I always liked the Aoba - weak armoured though she is. My favorite Japanese CA is Tone, though. Hartmann

Rob Roberson -> 6 November 1942 (5/28/2002 9:51:00 PM)
Japanese carriers have once again rolled into the area. Once again my warships have fled. The one weakness I do have in my blockade of Guadalcanal is my inabilty to control the seas when the enemy flattops are in the area. MY earlier losses in carrier air cripple my operations when the enemies come south to battle. The Japanese carrier commanders are savvy setting up a patrol just out of reach of my landbased air. I have sent several submarines to the location of the carriers attempting to disrupt him, no luck so far. Currently the carriers are pounding the marines at Vila. I have a squadron of Wildcats there, but against so much air power their usefulness is limited. I am debating with my staff sending a dive bomber squadron in and the wildcats out (due to space limitations at the fighter strip) right now they don't feel it would be useful. The air war over New Guinea continues to go well. I am currently thinking about a landing at Gasmata or Lae. Reconnaissance has shown me that Gasmata is very lightly defended. The only issue with a landing there is the closeness to Rabaul. My ships would pay a heavy price to get troops there unless I can reduce the threat of Rabaul. With the on again off again nature of my army air, that is not something I can guarantee right now. No major warships are due from Pearl. I have it on good authority that USS Enterprise is due back from Bremerton, Washington in just over 60 days. I have put in a request to Admiral Nimitz to have her steam straight here, as always we will see. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 6 November 1942

madflava13 -> (5/28/2002 11:49:38 PM)
Rob, I don't know if you're still planning on a New Guinea op, but I'd hold off if I were you... Let the Japs beat themselves up some more in the Solomons

Hartmann -> (5/29/2002 1:48:50 AM)
I would leave Gasmata alone, it's one of those bases easy to take but costly to hold on and supply. Cleaning up NG (Lae) sounds good to me, though. Hartmann

Rob Roberson -> 13 November 1942 (5/29/2002 10:59:23 AM)
It has been a week since I have written in my diary. I would like to say that the south Pacific is quiet, but that is not the case. The Japanese continue to dominate the area with their carriers. They are leaving my base at San Cristobal alone, content with hammering the marines at Vila. I have finally moved a dive bombing squadron to the island, but I fear that all I have done is move more men and material to the place for the Japanese to shoot up. I will continue to feed men into the area though, Vila is a key to starving the Japanese at Guadalcanal. It cannot be sunk and for every ship, plane and soldier they expend to attack the island it is one more ship plane and soldier not defending the thier ill-gotten empire somewhere else. Army bombers continue their thrashings of both Lae and Shortlands. In my opinion that is where my next two landings will be...I do not yet know when they will occur. Certainly not as long as a carrier group continues to dominate the area. My staff has convinced me what a bad idea a landing would be at Gasmata, despite the temptation of it I will put that off for now. Japanese transports (escorted by some destroyers) continue to run the gauntlet of mines and submarines around Guadalcanal. As long as I cannot send my surface forces there, some will get through and continue to keep the Japanese alive on the island. That being said those sub drivers are making the Japanese pay a heavy price for the island. I may have to bring some submarines home soon, for rest and refit. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 13 November 1942

Rob Roberson -> 14 November 1942 (5/29/2002 12:11:19 PM)
I have begun to to move naval forces to Brisbane in preparation of Operation Archer, the invasion of Lae. I believe I will make the actual landing of US Army and Australian forces at Finschhafen. Elements of the 6th Australian Divsion (16th and 17th Australian Brigades) commanded by General Lloyd and 43rd American Division (Major General Jester commanding ) 103rd Brigade will make the landing. I am still not sure on the timing of the invasion itself. In two days I will begin the bombing of the airfields at Rabaul. This will continue through the actual landing. I have already begin to move as many fighter groups as I can afford to the New Guinea are in order to protect the invasion force. Additionally, the 14th Australian Brigade will apply pressure from the south (after 1 month crossing the Owen Stanleys) by seizing the airfield at Marilinan. It is my hope that the Japanese carrier continues to hold station right where it is between Vila and Guadalcanal. I would rather see the carrier air continue to hold open the sea lanes in the Solomons then see it shift and try to intercept my task groups. Either way, I do not intend to kick off the invasion movement until the carrier is near the end of its "patrol" , one more week if the past is any indication of the endurance of the carriers. Hopeful this landing will be more successful then the ill-fated Landshark. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 14 November 1942

Rob Roberson -> 16 November 1942 (5/31/2002 10:08:10 AM)
Members of the tired 14th Australian brigade reached the abandoned Japanese base at Marilinan. The first hook of Archer is now in place. My bombing campaign of Rabaul begins tonite. When that reaches the damage level at that airbase that will hamper Japanese air forces significantly I will launch the second hook of archer and make my landings. The Japanese carrier forces continue to hang just out of range of my land base air, but I know where they are and for Archer to suceed they need to stay right where they are. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 16 November 1942

Rob Roberson -> 18 November 1942 (5/31/2002 12:05:06 PM)
Japanese Battleships slipped in under cover of darkness and attacked a small transport group off of Kiriwina on their way to attacking the airfield. In what will surely go down in the annals of Naval history the destroyer USS Sterret, sheepdog of the transport attacked the Battleship group. They made short work of her, but not before she put a torpedo in the sides of one of the enemy Battlewagons. The attack at Kiriwina makes we worry that once again the Japanese are reading my mail and are aware of Archer. We will see. The archer task force will sail as soon as South Dakota and her escorts arrive at Brisbane. We intercept a clear channel message from the Japanese Cruiser Haguro (who we believe is escorting the carrier group off of Vila) that she was taking on water from a torpedo attack. Apparently one fo my submarines got through the destroyer screen and made herself known. Vila continues to get hammered by Japanese air. My marines there are taking a beating. I am going to fly army troops in to take over the positions there. I intend to use several of my subs to transport supplies and ammo to Vila. The carrier's off Vila make it impossible for me to properly support the base but I will do what ever else I can to keep my marines alive there. The 14th Australian Brigade continues to rest after its long march down the Owen Stanley Mountains. Their movement did not go unnoticed by the Japanese. Recon says they have moved troops to the jungle near the Aussies. A battle there could be brewing. I will begin to reinforce the Aussies with troops and supplies using the captured airfield. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 18 November 1942

Rob Roberson -> 20 November 1942 (5/31/2002 12:35:53 PM)
The biggest Allied amphib group of the Pacific War has begun to assemble as Operation Archer moves forward. With South Dakota and her escorts just one day away the invasion fleet has begun to embarked American and Australian combat units. I have added the American 186th as reserve for the invasion. The air battle of New Guinea continues without pause. My heavy bomber crews continue to strike targets in both Rabaul and Lae. Japanese air continues to be fascinated with Gili. ANd in the them of this diary entry...the Japanese carriers continue to remain on station off of Vila. Oh what I would do for an aircraft carrier filled with Dive Bombers. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 20 November 1942

Rob Roberson -> 26 November 1942 (5/31/2002 1:52:36 PM)
After 5 days of heavy bombing at both Rabaul and Lae I have sailed Archer. Both Washington and South Dakota (in need of major overhaul due to overuse) are sailing with the battlegroup. I do not think either battle wagon will be much help in the operation, unless Japanese battlewagons appear. There is a good chance they might. My airbase at Kiriwina was shelled nearly a week ago by Battleships and air groups out of the base report they attacked two battleships steaming to the north of the base. Lae's airfield is operating at just 60 percent thanks to the heavy airstrikes there. Rabaul is operating at around 80 percent which is good, but not great. I expect to see many Bettys out of Rebaul after my ships pass the Gili Gap. I am very nervous about this force. I will attempt to force the landing unless I lose a significant amount of shipping in route. The Japense carriers have begun their retirement to the north. Only Land Base Air stands between me and the Lae. My left hook is on the move from Marlilan in the persons of the 14th and 7th Australian Brigades, but it will be a slow tired march through the jungle. Admiral Robert Roberson commanding 26 November 1942

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