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ReDDoN45 -> Pbem AAR (8/15/2002 8:39:42 AM)
OK I decided to write own "history" and will write down my actions and things happening as CinC Combined fleet and 8th Area Army/17th. I started this PBEM game against my opponent already 2 weeks ago, but we didn´t came that far yet. It is scen. Nr. 19! Uhh la la :D I decided to start this as I found Robs AAR very interesting to read. I propably won´t be able to write it that well and interesting (sorry for my English... its only acceptable, not more), but the things going on will be interesting enough, (I hope). After Doolitle raid on Tokio we had a discussion in in Tokio, of where to strike next: We had definetly 3 options. Central Pacific - decisive battle India - completed after the Trincomalee raid... also our troops became bogged down in Burma. South Pacifc - Isolating Australia and drawing the USN on OUR battlefield. After a long discussion (also with thos IJA fools) we managed to convince them that an all out drive south was fruitful! FOllowing that I ordered cancel of Operation MO - the conquest of Port Moresby. I relocated my HQ to Truk and ordered a big part of my fleet as soon repairs maintenance after Trincomalee and Java operations finished to join me down here! 1st CV Air fleet still in docks. I decided not to dare anything to big until I´ve got a big part of my fleet collected, so I can beat the US with quantity and qualtiy. In the meantime my 5th CV Div has orders to move to Kavieng and wait there for further orders. Their primary task was to cover the landings of our SNLF guys on Guadalcanal... we want to build up a forward base there (for our decisive battle). Send Toko NAG to Shortland to provide additional eyes for my CVs. Don´t want them ti operate to blind. We don´t have reports from any US TFs down here, we expect them to be occupied elsewhere. TH eonly ships possibly available are FLetchers speical Task Force (which already raided our invasion LAe :mad: Secondary objective of 5th CV Div is to raid possibel US attempts to resupply PM. BUT WITH Caution. don´t want to loose some of them (or even getting damaged) before main fleet arives. - SO makeshift Opeations. Moreover I ordered Shouth Seas Army Det. to go on higher readiness. They propably are going to be needed. The things went ahead. Invasion of Lunga went unmoslested. Moved in properly. Landed 5th Sasebo SLNF Rgt and Constrction Bn. A pilot form Yokohama NAG (Mavis), rebased to Lae, sighted light escorted AP transporters heading North, speed 10 kn. - May 8th My sub cocoon wasn´t fully deployed and my CVs still were watching the situation near Lunga. I decided to leave Lunga with what they had. Transports retiring prematurely and CVs first moving NW to west of Shortland and then West to engage transports in PM harbour :D Moreover I decided to order RADM Sakamaki to be cautious. We don´t know whether this AP fleet has CV escort. MY CVs remained unsported in their wide hook like move... weather supported us. Sakamakis TF was 100 miles S of Rabaul on May 10th. May 11th, the day of the planned Ambush! My CVs moved south to a location, well selected by Sakamaki. - 230 miles NE of PM. Weather favoured us - Lae flew special recon to update us with newest info. My CVs still unspoted. But then... nothing. THe Transports were gone... one day earlier they were still in port. Now a sighting from Toko NAG at Shortland reported a transport fleet 300 miles S of PM. Is this another transport fleet.. or did the previously spotted flee like hell??? Another message of concern arrived me that day. 2 US CVs spotted in a small port in the New Hebrides, think it was calles Luganville. Ordered my CVs to retreat again, no need for a fight with PM yet, they didn´t attack me that day - better for them. I had more than 60 planes flying Cap and LR cap. May-12th: Sakamakis 5th CV Div almost arrived at Rabaul, when my Long range recons spotted 2 CAs and one CL as well as some other APs 150 miles S of Milne Bay, the SE tip of NEw Guinea. I thought I could risk it! His CVs are still believed to be in the New Caledonia area. He propably wanted to ambush my transports at Lunga Base (that´s how we named our base on Guadlacanal), but htey retired with my CVs on May 8th. I guess SoPAC is waiting for something to react to, or even wants to raid Lunga and see what´s up there. May-13th: Our Ambush agaisnt the Allied fleet trying to unload troops at Gili Gili was a great success. LBAs from Rabaul struck the small invasion fleet (only 2 APs), which was intending to unload an engeneedr det. there, the propably wanted to evaluate base construction there. Hmmmm My CV AGs attacked from a posit 150 miles N of Milne Bay and reported several hits on the HMAS Australia and HMAS Hobart - they were doomed. But a third cruiser, pilot report Northampton class, as well as one DD remained unscratched. I lost 6 planes (and pilots) to inflict that massacre When he wants to reinforce New Guinea - I will allow him, just inflct losses in his attempts. The more men he sends to New Guinea, the more will be lost, after we won our decisve battle and begin isolating New Guinea. Our plan to occupy New Guinea is already getting drawed - dubbed operation "KO". May 14th: Sakamikis Fleet ordered back to Shortland - long awaited replensihment of planes (esp. fighters). We lost track of the US CVs :( News from Japan: Junyo finally combat ready and sent south. Bad news followed promptly: While 1st CV Div (Kaga, Akagi) are scheduled to leave Yokohama on May 20th, 2nd CV Div has to make some badly needed repairs and Soryu and Hiryu are delayed until beginning of June. I ordered 6th Daitai, currently in Japan, to begin Carrier training. Plan to do something with them. I-22 torpedoes a Northampton CA S of PM this evening. It is believed that this was the one which got out unscratched yesterday. Set my Subs loose. 4 of them are ordered to prowl AUS East coast, two of them remain near PM. May 15th: My Transport fleet which retired from Lunga on May 8th joined up with another TR fleet coming from Rabaul. They are ordered to reinforce Lunga Base. On board: SSF det., 17th SBF, another constr. Bn, and plenty of supplies. Rendezvous point 150 miles NEE of Buka. My LBA from Rabaul spotted plenty of subs. The biggest part of them is on ASW and long range naval recon. They are my "wide seeing eyes". Ordered APs from Truk south to pick up Kure SNLF Rgt from Kavieng and ship them to Shortland... I propably will need them there. Advised Captain, leading AP TF to cooparted with ASW aircraft to move around known sub locations. Sakamikis covering fleet ordered to leave Shortland on May 18th. Hope I will spot US CVs again, as I don´t like sending my guys, even escorted, out into the "unknown". I-29 shot another sprad of torpdoes on an oil licking cruises 240 miles S of PM. It was IDed as Chicago. He reported that he saw one torpedo hit. COntact lost so far. Fate of Chicage unsure (2 torpedo hits so far) Perahps on of my subs now patrolling entrances to AUS east coast picks her up. May 16th - Work began on Operation KO. It will be devided in 3 phases. But before that can take plave Operation MI, the destrcuion of large assets of the US Fleet msut go ahead. Engeneers finished construction of a small fighter strip on Lunga Base. Shortland base has also been expanded. Ordered Yokohama NAG to Shortland as well as det. of 14th Chutai, flying the new Emilys. ---> more eyes! In the past time SWPAC has flown 3 missions agaisn tour base at Lae. Often 15 Hudsons with some P-39 escort. THey didn´t do much damage and FlaK shot them up a bit. I decided to use the oprtunity and ordered F2/Tainan and F1/2nd Daitai from Rabaul to Lae during this rainy day. On next clear turn I guess he tries another strike - He will meet 54 Zeros! :D Rabaul anyway doens´t need them for now. Orderd Rabaul Air fleet commander NOT to attack PM ------> not effective enough. My plane losses up to know have been fairly low. No fighting ---> No Attrition, but that can change fast. May 17th: weather still rainy. Recon planes were spotted the past days, photgraphing many of our bases in New Guinea - SWPAC doesn´t seem to be very well informed by now. RADM Kono´s TR fleet is 145 miles NNW of Lunga - unspotted so far. Still plenty of sub spottings 300 miles around Rabaul. Decided to relocate F1/2nd Daitai to Lunga, as soon as the Lae ambush has been finished. Same for Yokohama float planes. Propably the US CVs come out to play... I must be ready to give them a hearty welcome. Sakamaki is leaving Shortland at 22:00. He´s got 62 fighters aboard. He can count on LR Cap support in about 2 days. Planning for OP - "KO" continues.

ReDDoN45 -> (8/15/2002 5:58:45 PM)
May 18th: RADM Kono´s Transport fleet arrived at Lunga at dusk, while Sakamkis CV fleet has set up a position 120 miles NWW of Lunga. Still both TFs seem to be unspotted, but you never know. Ordered Emilys from 14th Chutai and Mavis from Yokohama NAG to check Luganville and Noumea ports for tomorrow. Don´t want to risk anything by now. Sakamaki is ordered to stay on point and patrol. The expected attack on Lae failed to materialize. Just more recons were spotted above Nadzab and Finchhafen. Still the planned fighter ambush over Lae isn´t discovered by SWPAC, yet. The fighters will stay there for one more day...we will see tomorrow what to do next. I hate such situation - a good situation is good a bad is acceptable as you know what you are in, but an unsure situation is definetely worst! If I´d just know where his CVs are... even some kind of info... say, SBD Dauntless attacked I-22, which is patrolling off Townsville - that would be a hint. Another good news arrived me that evening: Captain Ohara commanding I-21 finally put an end to the USS Chicago, which tried to limp back to Cairns. He will get a special report for that achievement This makes up the final loss table of his Milne Bay disaster: PG Swan - sunk by a/c AP Moreton Bay - sunk by a/c AK Murada - sunk by a/c all sank in Milne Bay CA Chicago - sunk by subs CA Australia - sunk by a/c CL Hobart - sunk by a/c all confirmed sunk! I lost 6 planes and 18 torpedoes for that. I am sure even those IJA ignorants will be pleased to hear that. Spotted another CA + a DD 30 miles SE of PM. Weather forecasts are poor for tomorrow - I ordered 11th Air Fleet to stand down and do routine duty (ASW) First troop and OPS assignments for OP-"KO" are made. The disput between me and some IJA persons have almost reached a new peak, my pledge for more reinforcements of troops from Manchuria was meet with ignorance and sentences like: We, as the Army, feel no need to tell you about our intentions in Manchuria. Fight with what you have and don´t bother us with your intentions and requests. I feel: Something has to be done! :mad:

ReDDoN45 -> (8/15/2002 7:46:55 PM)
May 19th: Weather has become quite uncomftable. WIll remain like that for several days. Right now PM bombers struck Lae again - this time B-26s! My fighters were grounded by the strong wind gusts. He didn´t do much damage, in fact, almost nothing. My long range recons IDed the CA and the DD yesteray spotted SE of PM now "as 4 DDs..."? Perhaps they are ordered to help ASW duty in PM area. Already sent my subs to more fruitful areas. Supported by Long range recons they can pick up TFs and wolfpack them all way. But perhaps they are just used as fast APs. Either way I will keep an eye on this. Another small AP force was spotted 300 miles NEE of Townsville. Subs take track! My long range recons from Shortland reconed Luganville and Noumea. Only an AO with DMS as TF sighted at Luganville. Noumea port seems to be full of anchored ships :). Whatever, he either don´t know what´s up or he doens´t want to react. Forwarded these news to Sakamaki and Kono. This gives me couple of options for what to do with 5th CV Div. Or his closing CV TF was hidden from my Recons by a rain squall. THat would be a rude surprise if he shows up tomorrow. The unloading of Kono´s task force is going on fast. Hope he will be finished on evening of May 21st. THis would free up my 5th CV Div. In the meantime my engeneers are working hard to enlarge the small strip south of Lunga village

ReDDoN45 -> (8/15/2002 8:27:38 PM)
There seems a opportunity. Sakamaki has requested permission from me to act on own initiative. He didn´t told me more, just that their might be a possibility of achieving a great victory. I was unsure, but granted him permission with the pledge that his paramount task was to bring his CVs undamaged and his hangars mostly full of planes. Íf I´d only know what he exactly want s to do, but radio silence and need for fast acting has forbidden longer consultation. :confused:

Daoloth -> (8/16/2002 8:23:05 AM)
Sounds like you're giving the Allies a good beating. Japan ueber Alles! :D On a side note, my copy should arrive tomorrow...

ReDDoN45 -> (8/16/2002 9:43:16 AM)
May 20th: I waited for reports from Sakamaki. At 09:46 in the morning I received news from him: " Spotted enemy SBD shadowing us - Current posit is 225 miles S of San Cristobal - Otherwise no ships spotted". What the hell was Sakamaki doing, I trust him though, but I wondered what he was trying to do so far south of his assigned station. At 10:22 received following: "Recon plane from Myoko spotted enemy ships 170 miles SE of our current posit - US Naval fighters spotted - assuming Carriers nearby or in TF - will act accordingly" What does "accordingly" for Sakamaki mean? 10:30: " Turned NW - moving away from US CVs at full speed - search plane confirmed 2 Carriers - will let him attack me uncoordinated - will hold back own strike and need fighters for CAP - heading for nearby rain squalls - weather mixed - recon reporst lrge cloud layers to our NW" 11:43: " Attacked by 30 -40 Dive Bombers without escort - many US planes went down - poor weather, high speed, FlaK and disruptio helped us - Only one bomb hit on the Shoho, slight secondary explosion following - SHoho´s fighter land on Shokaku and Zukanku - Dispatched SHoho with DD - Turning back into battle now - Winds coming from SE - helping us for plane lauch, as they hampered Allies for stalking and attacking us before" 12:19: " No further strike so far - launching 104 planes agains t last known posit - sned out another 6 planes for recon - hope they will find the CVs - Will hold back 30 fighters for CAP 13:42: " planes report contact - EII-2 got lost on the way and seperated from main body - remaining planes attacking 2 CVs 13:50: " Attack very successful - our fighters fought off almost 40 US fighters - 3 Torpedo hits on Lexington class, propably a 4th - also 3 Torpedo hits on Yorktown class - 2 on Portland, 1 didn´t explode - EI-2 also scoring 2 bomb hits on Lexington - Yorktown last reported by fighters making 5 kns and heavy listing - Lexington class CV is dead and quite deep in water - prpably almost sinking" - EII-2 found a straggling destroyer between a rain squalls, propably lagging behind US main body - reported Sims class - attacked him and scored 3 bomb hits, 2 exploding" 15:16: " Recovered last plane from strike - trying to find US CVs again for another strike" 17:40: " Nothing found - proceeding with my original plan - raiding Luganville and Efate and looking for shipping coming to Noumea from US West Coast and Pearl" So that was his plan to move south - he used the bad weather and his unknow position to raid something. Despite his great victory, I am unpleased - This is too risky by now. 18:25: " Dispatch Cruiser force to raid several small spotted TFs - no further info about them - the CA TF will remain between Noumea and Lunga - CV TF will proceed east and attack Luganville from a posit 120 Miles NW of it tomorrow morning - arcraft losses so far have been light, 10 planes" I was following Sakamaki´s reports with much interest and fear - he indirectly disobeyed my orders by moving so far south. Otherwise there wan´t much happening that day. Quiet anywhere else. Ordered Kono to stay alerted. May 21st: Once again my day began with news from Sakamaki, he went into postion 120 miles NW of Luganville 06:40: "right before we wanted to lauch strike against Luganville, recon from Zuikaku spotted another Yorktown CV 180 miles SWW of his current posit - unsure wether it was the CV attacked yesterday - ordered strike not to lauch - reequip planes with torpedoes and AP bombs" 06:52: "spotted SBD dauntless shadowing us - unsure wether the Yorktown CV poses a threat or if it is the yesterday attacked" 06:59: "another Recon from the dispatched cruiser force spotted US Lexington class CV - it is confirmed that it is the yesterday attacked one" 07:15: " Recon shadowing unknown Yorktown class CV reports ship making 24 kns - unlikely that it was the yesterday attacked - propably a 3rd Carrier" Ohh my god - he stumbled into a hornets nest! 07:21: "Recon shadowing Lexington class CV reporting that ship capsizes and sinks - finally" 07:32: "We launch immediate strike agaisnt US CV - Zuikaku turning launching first - Shokaku will follow in 10 mins" 07:40: " Zuikaku has been attacked by 10 -15 Dive bombers. They scored one bomb hit. one of the ammo storages exploded. Our CAP failed to spot them - they came out of nowhere - not sure wether CV based or from Luganville" 07:48: " Shokaku finished launching planes" 09:10: " Zuikaku strike reached target - attack went unsuccesful - no hits scored. 09:22: " Shokaku strike found traget and attacked succesfully - 2 bombs and 2 torpedo hits. Carrier propably CV Enterprise or Hornet" What does Hornet do here??? Our spies reported it being in Pearl together with the Enterprise 09:50: " Zuikaku still operational" 10:47: " After last plane recovered steaming west to check and attack several ship sightings. between Noumea and Lugnaville" After that I didn´t receive any further reports from Sakamaki. The whole situation seems very strange - We attacked 3 CVs sinking 1 - or we attacked 2 and probably sank both??? Kono reported at 15:45 that they spotted a cruiser TF which entered the eastern apporaches to Guadlacanal/Tulagi. They ran smack into our minefield. I ordered Kono to retreat. Either the enemy knew what was up at Lunga or just wanted to raid the base there with a surface and CV TF. These are the complete coincidences in war mostly due to this very poor weather (it seems to remain like that for the next days) - right as Sakamaki wants to raid them, they want to raid us - noone knowing of the otherones presence. We certainly came luckier out. No need to overstress our luck. I sent Sakamaki orders to retire, he still didn´t reply so far. Shoho has estinguished all fires and now enters the slot heading for Shortland. Recons spotted over Rabaul. Ordered fighters from Lae back to Rabaul this evening. Ordered Shoho´s AG to rebase to Lunga - the strip has now been enlarged to house a few Torpedo bombers + fighters. Now Lunga is on it´s own for the next days. CV Kaga nd Akagi + escorts left Yokohama today morning - they will arrive here in a few days.

ReDDoN45 -> (8/16/2002 11:35:45 AM)
May 22nd 00:35: "Orders received - retiring to NW" - Sakamaki 02:11: "lookouts spotted enemy ships ahead - strength unknown - CVs turn and move SE - Furutaka and Kako engage" 02:38: " Furutake and Kako reported them as DDs - 2 Commonwealth and one US - all three sunk by gunfire as they tried to make a torpedo run" 03:20: "Cpt. Myoshi, commanding the dispatched surface force reported to me that they made contact with enemy ships - engagaging" 03:36: "Cpt Myoshi reports, both enemy ships as sunk by several shell and torpedo hits. It was a crippled Yorktown CV and a Destroyer - they went down very quickly and with great losses among their crews Whatta luck! This means that there definetely were 3 CVs in the area, as if there would have been only one Yorktown, it must have been already sunk by our second strike yesterday. 04:15: "Tunring again NW with my CVs, making best speed away from combat area - fires on Zuikaku under control 06:22: "We have spotted several straggling ships in the are, mostly CAs and DDs" 06:59: "launching several small attacks" 07:18: " We have been attacked by 6 B-25s and a few SBDs with massive fighter escort, propably a long range strike from Luganville" They scored 2 bomb hits on the Shokaku, with a huge explosion following, as the forward heavy FlaK gun ammo storage exploded - fires curretnly out of control" Well, it came to pass as most like it was - this must have happened earlier or later. The enemies DD sacrifice agaisnt our CV TF last night wasn´t in vain. They costed them enough time, that another Land based air strike could catch them. It would have been too glorious if he would have come out there unscratched. 08:24: " Fires still out of control - dispatched crewmemers from escort ships to help fighting the flames - situation critical - recon from Furutaka spotted Yorktown CV 200 miles NNW of Noumea, lying dead in the water - confitrmed 3rd CV!!!!" 09:35: " Sent another recon plane to take over shadowing duty of the crippled Yorktown" 09:49: " most planes returning - many landing on Zuikaku, since SHokaku not operational - Zuikaku therefore cramped with aircraft and inoperational either - planes report sinking a New Orleans CA and scoring bomb hits on 2 more CAs. Moreover they sank a crippled DD, propably the damaged Sims class, attacked two days ago" 11:26: " Recon reports, that crippled YOrktown class is sinking with starboard bow first - DD picks up her crew" 14:10: " fires on the Shokaku still out of control - consider abandoning ship" 17:00: " Situation on board of SHokaku still critical, but hope is in sight - rain squalls coming up" No further news from Sakamaki since then. His operational skill and tactic won the day and truly were brilliant! Nevertheless his strategic acting was foolish and cowboy like! He moved into a Hornets nest and got out of it with plenty of luck and even killed all the Hornets (propably even the hornet). If that last two bomb hits on Sakamaki´s retiring CV fleet wouldn´t have happened, it would have been a greater victory than Pearl harbor. It really seems that SoPAC had no idea about my presence off Lunga. They wanted to make recon in force - at least that´s they way it seems to me and Sakamaki attacked them before they were fully ready. One day later and that third CV would have joined the other 2, BEFORE Sakamaki´s attack. - Was this Sakamaki´s aim or sheer luck -????????????????? Now that I´ve transfered my fighters for ambush away form Lae, the next strike rolls in ----> That´s war! Tomorrow me and my staff will collect waht intel we have, on the outcome of Sakamaki´s rampage. I hope the Shokaku will survive this. Would be a scratch on that victory trophy!

ReDDoN45 -> (8/17/2002 5:28:55 PM)
May 23rd: No news from Sakamaki today. I assume that he is still retiring. I-17 which is ordered to lay mines in the Noumea area found and attacked an undamaged Northampton class cruise and fired a spread of 5 torpedoes on him - 2 hit the cruiser. After 2 hours evading DD attacks, the commander (Nishino) fired his last torpedo on the cruiser, which lay DiW, from almost 6000 yards. The torpedo hit and exploded. Nishino later heard sounds of breaking and bursting steal and is very sure that Cruiser has sunk. Kono is back in Shortland. I ordered him to dispatch a small TF (comprising to Task Groups) to move south and check for a sighting made 100 miles south of Rossel Isl. One TG consists of 3 DDs And the other one is the AV Kamikawa MAru and 2 accompanieng escort vessels - they have orders to attack the ships by air and provide (early morning) recon for Rabaul, so that AG from there can take off already before noon. They are my only currently available vessels. When the enemy TF is heading for Rossel Isl., they must be stopped, as I planned the isl. to become a forward operation base ((already two weaks ago We are still collecting intel on the outcome of the USN disaster. Nimitz propably will punish SoPAC for loosing 3 CVs (and other ships) for, in fact, nothing. Seems that was the last of Fletchers special TF 17´s raids! I will meat with my staff tomorrow and we will discuss what possibilties the US SoPAC and SWPAC still have and will assign our reserves accordingly.

ReDDoN45 -> (8/18/2002 11:33:50 AM)
I just received very important news from Japan. There mgiht be the possibility that the enemy is reading our messages. Are our codes still secure? But that´s also an advantege - We can deceive him! to a massive extend. We will investigate

AFIntel -> (8/21/2002 9:25:20 AM)
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Reddon45 [B]I just received very important news from Japan. There mgiht be the possibility that the enemy is reading our messages. Are our codes still secure? But that´s also an advantege - We can deceive him! to a massive extend. We will investigate [/B][/QUOTE] I'm not sure you can deceive the American commander that easy. Even if he was reading your codes, he would probably demand corroborating intelligence to determine the true intent and direction of your attacks!!:D He's probably a shrewd commander with a good understanding of intelligence!!

ReDDoN45 -> (8/21/2002 11:42:58 AM)
I new that you were reading them - that´s why I now release me AAR daily reports in clusters!

ReDDoN45 -> (8/26/2002 2:18:32 AM)
May 24th: Nothing important today, except one thing. Sakamaki dispatched Shokaku with the Furutaka and 3 DDs. Fires finally seem to be under control. The rain helped a lot. Damage to the bow compartment of the ship is reported to be considerable. The huge explosion blasted away parts of the deck and made a new and big "fresh air hole" for the hangar", moreover caused the excessive heat of the fire that several areas of the bow "melted"!!!! I will inspect the ship myself when it arrives here in Truk. The expected attack on Rossel Isl. didn´t come. I ordered my 2 TFs there to stay alerted and ROS. Shoho leaves Shortland isl. today and it´s ETA for Truk is within the next 12 days. I will inspect her either. Otherwise the Pacific is "pacific". Orderd my sub nearby of PM to investigate a sighting which seems to patrol in the area. Weapons free of course!

ReDDoN45 -> (8/26/2002 2:19:09 AM)
May 25th: The data on the losses are the follwoing: CV Lexington - TF 17 CV Yorktown - TF 17 CV Hornet (we assume) - fresh from Pearl all confirmed sunk CA New Orleans class - TF 17 4 DDs (2 British and 2 American) all confirmed sunk We are not sure whether the ship attacked and sunk by I-17 was really a cruiser. We picked up a message, that a USN DD has been reported sunk by a sub and the CA Chester hit by one torpedo. We will investigate. I will talk to I-17 commander. He reported hearing two hits after spread was fired - could also mean he hit two different ships and his last torpedo killed the DD in long range, which he mis IDed as CA, due to all that smoke. so propably a 5th DD or a second CA????? We lost about 30 aircraft. No ships were lost, though the Zuikaku and the Shoho suffered medium damage. The fires on board of the Shokaku are finally out - the crew did a superb job , in fact superhuman! The damage to the ship´s hull and its systems is severe. Still no attack on Rossel Isl. Either the enemy knew of our ambush or it was a wrong sighting. My ships remain on station - sent a tanker to refuel them. We will investigate how far the few enemy engeneers which made it ashore in Milne bay came, by sending a patrol from Shortland. About the half of them survived my aircraft attacks, during the massacre upon the small fleet, which brought them in about two weeks ago Otherwise quiet. Just the usual recons show up over Rabaul. Perhaps a B-17 strike will follow soon. Until now only Lae airbase received medium poundings. In case of enemy B-17 attack, we already have a immediate counterattack plan.

ReDDoN45 -> (8/26/2002 2:21:07 AM)
May 26th: Sakamaki on board of the Zuikaku has arrived back in Shortlands. Quickly ordered him to move back to Truk. The remainder of his force will remain in the South Sea. Myoshi´s despatched cruiser TF is still patrolling in the southern Solomon sea. I´ve got a job for him and the accompanieng support ships (AV Kimikawa, a TK and a few PCs). A second TF built from the escorts of the Zuikaku is ordered to steam SW from Shortlands. A big convoy from Truk also arrived at Rabaul today. So the ground forces for "KO-1" are in position. A small TF of two AVs I ordered to seize the Isl. of Tulagi with some SNLF aboard also left Shortland today. After that they will proceed to Lunga and support H6K opertions. Numerous small TFs for positioning and build up for "KO" are roaming around + a few big convoys. Yokohama AG, ordered to recon Milne Bay, has found out that the enemy has already buit a small air strip 1 mile off the port. the recon confirmed spotting of two 2-engined aircraft on the ground. We assume that they are C-47. The enemy is propably air supplying Gili Gili. An air attack for 11th Air Fleet is scheduled for tomorrow. We also must suspect fighter opposition. Special TF 23 has arrived at Truk today - they were just ordered to refuel and proceed further south - to their assigned target!

ReDDoN45 -> (8/26/2002 2:21:34 AM)
May 27th: The air attack went unsuccessful. No real damage scored. Bad weather over target hampered bombing. Nothing else to report. May 28th: Heavy recon of Gili Gili today. We try to find out more about the base. Seems the enemy already has bsed about 30 planes there. May 29th: RADM Hashimotos small cruiser TF, made up of the escorts of the Zuikaku attacked Gili Gili today. They sank a DD, which appearently unloaded supplies in the beach and proeceeded with the bombardment of the AF. I-21 north of Townsville torpedoed a troop transport there - fate unknown.

ReDDoN45 -> (8/28/2002 7:49:20 AM)
May 30th: Nothing of importance to report. Base expansion of Lunga and Shortland goes on very rapidly. I ordered extra food to be delivered to Lunga - they deserve it! The Isl. of Tulagi has been seized. No enemy opposition encountered. We might use it´s little port and expand it. To be discussed. May 31st: The Zuikaku and the Shoho arrived at Truk today. Still no sign of the Kaga and the Akagi - I wonder when they will come. They left Japan 11 days ago. Myoshi´s cruisers shot Milne bay Air strip and port to dust. Tomorrow 11th Air Fleet will launch a heavy attack on Gili Gili. Special TF 23 is performing offensive ASW operations south of Rabaul now.

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