RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER

RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (Full Version)

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports

Message

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/17/2011 3:44:52 AM)
5/2-5/3/42 PHILIPPINES I moved the 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion to San Fernando and they gave a payback to the daily Tokyo Express: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 02, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Naval bombardment of San Fernando at 80,74 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 44 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Nagato CA Mikuma CA Mogami CL Kinu CL Isuzu CL Sendai CL Kashii, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Tsuta DD Hasu DD Namikaze DD Mikazuki DD Hayashio Allied ground losses: 41 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled) Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 18 Port hits 1 BB Nagato firing at San Fernando E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CA Mikuma CA Mikuma firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at CA Mikuma 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at CA Mogami CA Mogami firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CL Kinu CL Kinu firing at 26th PS Cavalry Regiment CL Isuzu firing at 21st PA Infantry/A Division CL Sendai firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at CL Sendai CL Kashii firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at CL Kashii DD Tsuta firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at DD Tsuta DD Hasu firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at DD Hasu DD Namikaze firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion DD Mikazuki firing at 26th PS Cavalry Regiment DD Hayashio firing at 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at DD Hayashio The daily naval bombardments are more of an irritation than anything else as we are rotating disrupted LCUs(that are gaining experience) out of San Fernando on a daily basis and replacing them with fresh LCUs. All quiet on Mindanao. CBI Dave shuts down his LRCAP over 56th and Imperial Guards Divisions outside of Myitkina to rest his fighters and the RAF 2Es and USAAF 4Es wreak havoc on the elite IJA assault formations. There is still no indication that Dave has spotted my 2000 AV of American/British/Commonwealth/Chinese advancing through the jungle at Kalemyo. The Allied forces in contact with the 56th and Imperial Guards Divisions will continue to withdraw on Myitkina to draw the Japs further into the jungle and away from Mandalay. In China....Dave went _all in_ with his air forces to interdict the Chinese retreat from Canton to Wuchow. There were over 80 Allied fighters on CAP waiting for them and the results were devastating to the Japanese. The Oscars have been giving me fits in the CBI but this time it was Nates and they were woefully inadequate vs the Hurricanes and the AVG. Altogether this turn....Japan loses 63 AC vs 9 Allied AC. In A2A its even worse.....Japan loses 39 AC vs 1 Allied AC. Individual plane losses include 35 Nates and 13 Sallys. Quiet on the ground throughout China....we continue to advance on the Loyang/Chengchow/Tsiaotso complex. FORTRESS BATAVIA Dave orders air/land and naval bombardments on Batavia...the naval bombardment included BB Hyuga and BB Fuso so that means there is a maximum of 6 BBs available to oppose our offensive in the Solomons. Allied xAKLs sail around Denpasar towards Batavia and the Netties are ineffectual in stopping them: Morning Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 57,112 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 6 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAKL Wear Aircraft Attacking: 6 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 14000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 56,113 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 6 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAKL Kini Aircraft Attacking: 6 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 14000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 57,112 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 3 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAKL Wear Aircraft Attacking: 3 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 14000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Morning Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 59,108 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 9 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAKL Kini xAKL Belawan Aircraft Attacking: 9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 14000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sepandjang at 59,107 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 6 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAKL Wear Aircraft Attacking: 6 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 14000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb One good thing about this is it will keep Netties pinned in the DEI to prevent the Allies from shipping in supplies to Batavia. Japan invades at Siberoet so maybe KB or mini KB is still covering the mop up attacks on the outer barrier islands of the DEI. OPERATION WATCHTOWER.....D-DAY MINUS 2 The Allied air combat TFs and surface TFs reach their start line just NE of Noumea. So far no one is spotted by naval search but an IJN sub is spotted by float planes 1 hex away but there is no indication of reciprocal spotting. Admiral Draemel's amphibious TF reaches its start line at Luganville and an adjacent TF is positively ID'ed by Japanese search but the amphibious TF while spotted is not ID'ed. All is good so far. Next turn Admiral Draemels amphibious TF will sail at full speed to Lunga while the Allied carriers sail to their rendezvous point where they can bomb Munda. Dave is off on vacation for a few days until Tuesday or Wednesday. I havent finalized the file yet and I can still consider cancelling this offensive into the teeth of the Japanese defenses for a couple of days. The USAAF heavy bomber reserve hits Munda AF once again and now there is 75% damage. [image]local://upfiles/14495/3992FD04817E4F7690508AD034D1D62B.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/18/2011 2:51:28 PM)
THE AIR WAR.......5/4/42 Dave is out of town for a couple more days so I have time to post on the air war. Japanese air craft losses have ramped up significantly since I last posted this in mid April due to the aerial skirmishing now over the south Pacific and the major introduction of USAAF heavy bombers. Overall.....Japan has lost 2131 AC to 1857 Allied AC. In A2A combat now both sides are virtually even. The Allies have lost 888 AC in A2A combat vs 880 Japanese AC. Here is a screenshot of Japanese plane losses by type. A6M2 losses have soared since mid April as it has been the only Japanese fighter introduced to the south Pacific so far. To put it in numerical turns.....A6M2 losses have increased over 50% in about 3 weeks! [image]local://upfiles/14495/3F708F6CA6914938974D1B8B8E61361A.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/18/2011 3:00:41 PM)
THE AIR WAR......CONTINUED And here is a screenshot of Allied plane losses by type. P-40E losses have ramped up with the fighting over the CBI but no surprise here. I have some reserves of P-40Es in the plane pool.....some 35-40 AC..... due to all the air group withdrawals. Im able to keep the AVG squadrons at full strength now regardless of the ferocity of the air war over China. I just withdrew the 24th PG over the last 2 turns....they have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the USAAF since the start of the war.....and now all their elite pilots have been spread over several front line USAAF squadrons. All variants of the Hurricane fighter are in short supply....most of my Hurricane squadrons are at 50% TOE. These Hurricane variants have been by far the most lethal Allied fighter of the early war as 7 of my top 10 aces and 10 of the top 13 aces have been Hurricane drivers. [image]local://upfiles/14495/CE8E00D06CB9473CA7F0AFE6CB1A49AE.jpg[/image]

Wirraway_Ace -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/21/2011 12:13:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance THE AIR WAR.......5/4/42 Dave is out of town for a couple more days so I have time to post on the air war. Japanese air craft losses have ramped up significantly since I last posted this in mid April due to the aerial skirmishing now over the south Pacific and the major introduction of USAAF heavy bombers. Overall.....Japan has lost 2131 AC to 1857 Allied AC. In A2A combat now both sides are virtually even. The Allies have lost 888 AC in A2A combat vs 880 Japanese AC. Here is a screenshot of Japanese plane losses by type. A6M2 losses have soared since mid April as it has been the only Japanese fighter introduced to the south Pacific so far. To put it in numerical turns.....A6M2 losses have increased over 50% in about 3 weeks! I am very surprised that Dave is using his IJN fighters as the workhorse. Pilot training for IJN fighters is difficult even if one makes dubious use of all the spare floatplane units. I find it very difficult to keep up with significantly more modest IJN fighter losses while preparing to expand the CV airgroups in July with decent pilots. Army fighter pilots on the other hand are very easy to replace. Of course, I build a lot of Oscars (twice as many as A6M2s) to get my Army pilots out of Nates fast and in the air in good plane. Oscars have a lot of trouble with Hurricanes though. The Hurricane is a significantly tougher customer in the game than its historical performance would suggest; however, the same may be true of the Tojo.

Wirraway_Ace -> RE: A6M2 (10/21/2011 12:17:29 AM)
sorry, I changed the subject line from Operation Watchtower. It may have been part of a disinformation campaign, but if not, I did not want the subject line o fmy response blowing OPSEC. mike

racndoc -> OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/21/2011 3:48:11 PM)
Wirrayway_Ace...... up until about 3 weeks ago Japan's heaviest fighter losses were Nates. Dave is primarily using Nates and Oscars over the CBI where the bulk of the aerial combat has occured over thew last 2-3 months. However with the recent activity in the south Pacific Dave is using A6M2s exclusively. The A6M2 is the only Japanese fighter now with the range to sweep Luganville from Lunga(12 hexes) or fly extremely long LRCAP. In performing these missions at very long range the A6M2s will suffer additional operational losses(which is fine with me). Getting away from the difficulties Japan may have in training naval pilots....I think that the A6M2 is the appropriate Japanese fighter in this theatre. Im sure that Dave has a naval HQ in charge at Truk(and or Rabaul) and in RL the A6M2 was the fighter encountered by the Allies when they invaded at Guadalcanal. Im thinking that Japan has its 2nd string fighter pilots in the south Pacific after 49 of 95 sweeping A6M2s were lost in a single turn. I appreciate your concern about OPSEC..... I almost never discuss Allied carrier movements in real time after a couple of bad experiences in CHS AARs 2-3 years ago. However when Dave plays this next turn the "cats out of the bag" with regards to Operation Watchtower. 5/4-5/5/42 FORTRESS BATAVIA IJN surface TFs sink all 3 of the Allied xAKL blockade runners in the Java Sea. Japan sweeps Java with nearly 100 A6M2s: Morning Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 87 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 14000 feet 11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 14000 feet 11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 14000 feet 11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 14000 feet 43 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet * Morning Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 12 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 14000 feet Fighters involved with this sweep were from CVs Akaga/Kaga/Hiryu/Soryu/Zuikaku/Shokaku and CVL Zuiho. I had withdrawn my last fighter squadrons from the DEI over a month ago. That means that Dave bought into the threat of a possible naval resupply effort by the Allies at Batavia.....and the entirety of KB and mini-KB are in the Java Sea.....and hopelessly out of position to interfere with Operation Watchtower. The ironic thing here is that Dave's fighter sweep of Batavia would have been perfect had I commited Allied carriers here in a resupply effort as I had previously considered......my plan was to stage USMC fighters into Batavia from USN CV flightdecks at extreme range and use them to cover unloading of resupply transports. This is absolutely incredibly important intel for my operations in the Solomons. Dave launches another bloody 1:3 deliberate attack at Batavia: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 69597 troops, 801 guns, 507 vehicles, Assault Value = 2551 Defending force 42800 troops, 501 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 1194 Japanese adjusted assault: 771 Allied adjusted defense: 2555 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 5402 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 304 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 251 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled Vehicles lost 83 (3 destroyed, 80 disabled) Allied ground losses: 2377 casualties reported Squads: 25 destroyed, 145 disabled Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 322 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Vehicles lost 72 (18 destroyed, 54 disabled) Assaulting units: 18th Division 2nd Division 80th Garrison Battalion 5th Division 33rd Division 8th Tank Regiment 21st Division 16th Naval Guard Unit 4th Div /7 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion Afdeling Ritman Manado Garrison Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment Marinier Battalion Samarinda KNIL Battalion Lijfwacht Cav Sqn Roodenburg Battalion Van Altena Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion VII KNIL Battalion 2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 1st Regt Cavalerie VI KNIL Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment Prajoda Garrison Battalion 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Makassar Garrison Battalion Batavia Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion Banjoewangi Base Force Bandoeng Base Force Djojakarta Base Force 3rd KNIL AA Battalion ML-KNIL Commandement Marine Merak Base Force 1 ML-KNIL Aviation ABDA Loemafjang Base Force Madion Base Force KNIL Army Command Soerabaja Base Force MLD Tjilitap Base Force Malang Base Force Dave suffers casualties of 312 squads.....that makes a total of over 1140 squads disrupted/killed so far in the Battle for Batavia. I havent been counting AFV losses but the IJA 8th Tank Regiment cant be doing very well either. The IJA troops here will definitely need to be rested for awhile before they can be allocated to a Japanese Phase II offensive. The Dutch still have a lot of fight left in them although they have depleted their excess supplies at the base. Now every transport sub that drops off supplies at Batavia is critically important. CBI Mostly quiet over the entirety of China. In Burma....most of the RAF/USAAF 2Es, 4Es and FB pound the IJA 56th and Imperial GuardsDivisions and 14th Tank Regiment W of Myitkina. Its a good thing they did however as Japan nearly achieves a 1:1 deliberate attack: Ground combat at 62,42 Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20894 troops, 218 guns, 207 vehicles, Assault Value = 806 Defending force 10390 troops, 110 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 428 Japanese adjusted assault: 388 Allied adjusted defense: 495 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 1571 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 87 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 62 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled Vehicles lost 36 (2 destroyed, 34 disabled) Allied ground losses: 663 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 83 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 40 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Assaulting units: 56th Division Imperial Guards Division 14th Tank Regiment Defending units: 2nd King Own YLI Battalion 13th Indian Brigade 4th Burma Rifles Battalion Tenasserim BAF Battalion 48th Gurkha Brigade 16th Indian Brigade 1st Gloucestershire Battalion 36th Chinese Division 27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment Japan suffers casualties of 1500 troops vs 600 Allied troops. Dave's AV here has to be down to around 700 now and we welcome as much additional attrition as possible before the Allied Eastern Army breaks out of the jungle SE of Kalemyo and envelopes them. PHILIPPINES Japan conducts yet another 1:2 deliberate at Cayagan: Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 14526 troops, 168 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 546 Defending force 10071 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 308 Japanese adjusted assault: 219 Allied adjusted defense: 263 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 867 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Allied ground losses: 632 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 49 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 62nd Naval Guard Unit 10th Garrison Unit 38th Division 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 4th/101st PA Battalion 2nd/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 3rd/101st PA Battalion 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps The Philippino troops continue to put up a good fight on Mindanao. All quiet on Luzon save for the daily aerial bombardments at Clark and Manila and aerial and naval bombardments at San Fernando. OPERATION WATCHTOWER Allied command is relieved to get the intel this turn that all the IJN CVs are in the viciinity of Java and unable to interfere with Operation Watchtower. The Allied carriers rendezvous off the W coast of Guadalcanal to cover the landings at Lunga. I evidently screwed up the orders for the carrier SBDs and instead of neutralizing Shortlands they bombed the ground units there. The USAAF heavy bombers fared a bit better.....the weather improved for the first time in a week and hammered the airfield at Munda: Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft B-17D Fortress x 6 B-17E Fortress x 30 LB-30 Liberator x 3 Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 49 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 3 No Allied losses Runway hits 3 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-17D Fortress x 6 B-17E Fortress x 43 LB-30 Liberator x 6 Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 12 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 7 Runway hits 83 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb I havent got Dave's orders for the next turn yet so I dont know exactly but Id have to assume that Munda is now 100% damaged and out of business. USN SBDs destroy a couple of Japanese transport TFs in the Solomons: Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 36 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese Ships xAK Misaki Maru, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk PB Kyo Maru #7, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk xAK Tensyo Maru, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Misaki Maru Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Tensyo Maru Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 8 SBD-3 Dauntless x 18 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese Ships xAKL Naruo Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk xAKL Yanagigawa, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage xAKL Hiyori Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk PB Toshi Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Naruo Maru Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Yanagigawa Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Hiyori Maru Admiral Draemel's Amhibious TF reaches Lunga and sends the first wave of assault troops ashore: Pre-Invasion action off Lunga Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Pensacola CL Colombo CL Capetown CL Marblehead CL Achilles CL Leander DD Parrott DD John D. Ford DD Edsall DD Bulmer APD Lawrence DE Jumna DD Whipple Allied ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled CA Pensacola firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit CL Colombo firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit CL Capetown firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit CL Marblehead firing at 5th Air Division CL Achilles firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit CL Leander firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit DD Parrott firing at 5th Air Division DD John D. Ford firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit DD Edsall firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit DD Bulmer firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit DD Bulmer fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Lunga TF 188 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 114,138 Allied ground losses: 473 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 128 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 115 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 40 (0 destroyed, 40 disabled) Vehicles lost 63 (1 destroyed, 62 disabled) 10 troops of a US Raider Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 1st Marine Raider Bn Motorized Support dropped into water during unload of 8th Marine Rgt 10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 164th Infantry Rgt /3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Lunga Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 22 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Pensacola CL Colombo CL Capetown CL Marblehead CL Achilles CL Leander DD Whipple DD John D. Ford DD Edsall DD Bulmer APD Lawrence DE Jumna CA Pensacola firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit CL Colombo firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit CL Capetown firing at 5th Air Division CL Marblehead firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit CL Leander firing at 5th Air Division DD Whipple firing at 5th Air Division DD John D. Ford firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit DD Edsall firing at 35th JNAF AF Unit DD Bulmer firing at 5th Air Division DD Whipple fired at enemy troops DD John D. Ford fired at enemy troops DD Bulmer fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards Allied disablements are heavy as the troops are only 25-35% prepped for the invasion. Bombing attacks at Lunga ID the following Japanese formations: 48th Road Construction, 39th Road Construction, 51st Construction, 56th Construction, 5th Air HQ and 35th JNAF BF. Just a bunch of engineers and no combat units have been ID'ed......and I wasnt bombarded at the end of the turn so I doubt that there are any combat units present. I dont have the file back from Dave yet so I dont know what I have ashore but I will almost certainly order a shock attack next turn to take the airfield....this will piss off the Japanese construction unions but hey....war is hell. I will cancel the multiple naval bombardments planned for Lunga next turn so that I can capture the airfield intact. Its weird but this is almost like the RL situation that occured at Guadalcanal in 8/42 where the USMC stormed ashore only to find Japanese construction troops and an empty airstrip. The USMC paratrooper battalion will be dropped at Tassafaronga to cut off the Japanese retreat route. I will post again on preparations for my next turn after I get the file back from Dave. [image]local://upfiles/14495/E0A0F64E1C66474BB7F22C34A727E20E.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/23/2011 4:22:07 PM)
5/5/42..........OPERATION WATCHTOWER OPERATION WATCHTOWER was to have been the 1st Phase of OPERATION SMASH AND GRAB.......the capture of all 3 Japanese developed level 4 AFs in the Solomons....Lunga, Munda and Shortlands. Operation Watchtower so far is going smoothly.....all men and materiel were unloaded last turn at Lunga by Admiral Draemel's amphibious TF save for 20 motorized support from 754th Tank Battalion. Even better....all units have as much supply as they could possibly expend in 2 weeks of heavy combat AND the Japanese apparently are woefully understrength here with regard to land combat formations. The only problem is that the total AV of the attacking force is now only 355 AV....over 150 AV were disabled in the invasion as the LCUs only had 25-35% prep. A shock attack will be ordered for next turn and we should easily capture Lunga airfield.....but this throws a crimp in my larger plans for the Solomons. I had previously relocated the Australian 6th Division....one of the most powerful Allied formations available this early in the war...to Luganville. They were being prepped along with the USMC 7th Regiment and 2 tank battalions for Munda. In addition.....8 APs and 8 AKs....virtually the entire remainder of the USN amphibious lift available...will arrive at Luganville next turn. My original plan had been to load these formations immediately on the newly arriving APs/AKs and invade Munda within 2 turns of the capture of Lunga. I think that this force would have been sufficient to defeat the 14,000 IJA troops at Munda. However....these units would have had only 30-40% prep for Munda and I would be suffering the same 35% disablements that I took at Lunga and the invasion possibly could have failed.....just as KB showed up with vengeance. I also had 2 US Army regiments prepping for Shortlands.....that invasion too will be cancelled. So instead of capturing 3 of the 4 Japanese level 4 AFs in the area....I am settling for the capture of only 1 level 4 AF at Lunga but will neutralize Munda and Shortlands 100% with my USAAF and Navy bombers respectively. And of course there will be a change of plans. I had using PBYs to fly in supplies to the small undeveloped bases at Rennel and Rossel Is. and have 500 suppliesa stockpiled at each....these were to have been my initial forays into the Solomons before I decided to capture Lunga in April. Now I will use PBYs to fly in the Australian 1st Motor Brigade to Rossel Is. The 2nd USMC Paratroop Battalion will no longer be tasked with dropping on Tassafaonga to cut off the retreat for the Japanese forces at Lunga. Instead...PBYs will drop the USMC paratroopers on the undefended Japanese island at Russell. Rennel Is. is now a backwater and will be bypassed....besides....Rennel Is. was rated zero for ports so the buildup would have consumed a lot of amphibious lift. So I will buildup Lunga/Russel/Rossel and the troops at Lunga will march overland to take Tassafaronga. Under the aircover of fighters from Lunga we will easily be able to capture. Tulagi. The the Allies will have 5 mutually supporting AFs to counter the remaining Japanese airfields at Munda/Shortland/Rabaul. And then we will see if Dave wants to fight a land/air/naval attrition battle in the Solomons. I think that I now have the initiative in this game and I certainly hope to keep things moving forward...even though its only 5/42. [image]local://upfiles/14495/07FD3127692B4973921FB3728965EB7A.jpg[/image]

Wirraway_Ace -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/24/2011 6:26:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance 5/5/42..........OPERATION WATCHTOWER AdmSpruance. This is a great outcome. I was concerned that you did not have enough combat power going into Lunga, but indeed you have been able to recreate history catching the Japanese overextended and overconfident. I have a couple of areas of concern: The 1st Motor Bde TOE was not intended for airtransport. You may be putting the light elements of this very powerful formation in a bad situation. There are a number of much lighter TOE OZ or US Marine formations that are a better fit for the Rossel Island mission. On the other hand, if you can get the 1st motor bde dug in at Lunga, it will take a lot to dislodge it. Your 4Es are operating from airfields that can be hit by Naval Bombardment. If Dave decides to fight once Java is wrapped up, he may target your operational depth in and around Luganville to unhinge the tactical defense in the Southern Solomons. Mike

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/26/2011 8:17:16 PM)
Just a quick update today.....my wife, three children and I are aboard the new xAP Disney Dream....currently on patrol in Bahamian waters. xAP Disney Dream weighs 130,000 tons......twice the size of BB Yamato and bigger than 4 Yorktown class CVs combined. xAP Disney Dream can embark or disembark 4000 passengers, 1450 crew and all their personal effects in less than 4 hours. Internet at sea is sketchy and extremely expensive......about $30 to DL the file from Dave.....send the file back to Dave....and write this brief post. 5/6-5/7/42.........OPERATION WATCHTOWER The US Marines and US Army troops capture the airfield at Lunga in a brief but violent shock attack. The remnants of the defeated Japanese defenders are retreated into the jungle at Tassafaronga. The USMC raiders will pursue the Japanese to Tassafaronga while the 2 infantry regiments rest and recover their disabled squads. The airfeld is captured intact and the Allies immediately stage in nearly 200 AC....about 45 DBs and 150 fighters. Lunga has 23,000 supplies and the 2 CBT Eng. Regiments along with the Bobcat Seabees immediately begin work on a level 1 port. Once we have completed at least a level 1 port the Allies have an almost inexhaustable supply of expendable small xAPs/xAKs that can bring in additional men and materiel. Things werent quite so smooth at Russell Is. though as the 2nd USMC Paratroops were not able to secure the island. MY recon was inadequate and Japan evidently has an engineer regiment there that will need to be eliminated. The USMC paratroops are in relatively good shape though as only 3 of tghe 27 squads are disabled. I will rest them for a couple of turns until they can reduce their high fatigue and disruption and get some supplies to them with both a small amphib TF and a fast transport TF. The attrition battle that I wanted with Japan began in earnest this turn. Dave sent several airstrikes from rabaul against the Amphibious TF at Lunga and overall Japan loses 108 AC this turn vs 27 Allied AC. In A2A....Japan loses 79 AC vs 8 Allied AC. Individual plane losses include 17 A6M2s, 23 Betty's, 12 Topsys and 7 Tinas....look like Dave was trying to use air transport to pul his units out of Lunga as we attacked. Unfortunately....the USN SBDs failed to attack the AF at Shortlands for the 2nd turn in a row....and the AF there is still 100% operational. Munda AF remains closed. Dave has now massed some 70 fighters. 70 bombers and over 150 Aux. AC at Rabaul and Shortlands. I will withdraw the Allied carriers for a couple of turns to let them rearm and take on AC replacements. The carriers will return to the Solomons to cpver additional amphib landings at Russell Is. [image]local://upfiles/14495/2083B80CA21F47F8AEB319AF0D7AD8D2.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/28/2011 10:51:11 PM)
Wirrayway_Ace....I know that the $hit is going to hit the fan as soon Dave captures Batavia....Im hoping to get 4-5 mutually supporting airfields in the Solomon Sea open as quickly as possible so that Luganville becomes more of a "rear" area. I used the 1st Motor Brigade at Rossel Is. as its only using the disposable CMF Inf. devices.....these will be replaced in the parent unit with AIF Inf.1942 devices. I also have the USMC 9th Regiment prepping for Rossel but its not yet in position to reinforce. 5/8-5/9/42 OPERATION WATCHTOWER Just as the Allied carriers begin to withdraw from the Solomon Sea to rearm and refuel at Luganville.....SS I-169 puts a torpedo in CV Lexington: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 08, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Lunga at 113,138 Japanese Ships SS I-169 Allied Ships CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1 CA Louisville CL Helena DD Phelps DD Selfridge SS I-169 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Lexington I-169 diving deep .... DD Phelps fails to find sub and abandons search DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Lunga at 113,138 Japanese Ships SS I-169, hits 9 Allied Ships DD Van Ghent DD Napier DD Jupiter SS I-169 is located by DD Van Ghent DD Napier attacking submerged sub .... DD Jupiter fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Napier fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Jupiter fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Napier fails to find sub and abandons search DD Jupiter fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Jupiter fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Jupiter fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Dave is trying night torpedo attacks on the Allied carriers in the Solomon Sea: Night Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 113,138 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 13 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged Allied Ships CV Indomitable CV Formidable BB Ramillies Aircraft Attacking: 12 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 47 minutes Without naval nightfighters I dont really have any way to stop these attacks. Dave reinforces Russell Is. from 720 troops to over 1600 troops in 1 turn with his numerous transport AC. I had heavily LRCAPed Russell Is. and turned back quite a few transport AC but apparently many got through anyway. Dave also reinforced Munda(14,500 troops) and Tulagi(2000 troops). Im loading 2 regiments and the 2nd USMC Raiders at Luganville this turn for an amphibious assault at Russell Is. in 2-3 turns. The 2nd USMC Paratroops at Russell Is. were resupplied and are now digging in until the reinforcements arrive. Allied level bombers and DBs pound the Japanese troops at Russell Is. At Lunga.....we have landed another seabee unit and now the level 1 Bubba Shrimp wharf is 86% complete. Im directing the engineers now to also enlarge the AF at Lunga and Im sending the first xAP into the Lunga port this turn with an USN BF unit. The Allied carriers made it back to Luganville and rearmed and refueled. CV Lexington has 14 SYS, 32 FLT and 2 ENG damaged from the sub launched torpedo....Ive put her on critical pierside repair at Luganville and the minor damage will be repaired in 10 days. Unfortunately....the size of the Lex requires that she return to Pearl harbor to complete her repairs and that would effectively eliminate her from Operation Watchtower....leaving the Allies only 4 USN CVs and 3 RN CVs to take on the IJ Navy. PBYs will now start airlifting engineers to Rossel Is. and newly arrived USN SSTs will bring in supplies and eventually more construction equipment. PBYs also drop additional Australian troops on Deboyne Is. FORTRESS BATAVIA Dave launches another 1:2 attack at Batavia: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 67483 troops, 802 guns, 507 vehicles, Assault Value = 2414 Defending force 40937 troops, 501 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 1086 Japanese adjusted assault: 847 Allied adjusted defense: 2029 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 3808 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 180 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 216 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled) Allied ground losses: 3160 casualties reported Squads: 45 destroyed, 117 disabled Non Combat: 88 destroyed, 296 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled) Vehicles lost 55 (39 destroyed, 16 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: 18th Division 33rd Division 5th Division 16th Naval Guard Unit 1st Engineer Co 21st Division 8th Tank Regiment 2nd Division 4th Div /7 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion Lijfwacht Cav Sqn Afdeling Ritman 2nd KNIL Regiment 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment Marinier Battalion VI KNIL Battalion 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Roodenburg Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 1st Regt Cavalerie VII KNIL Battalion Van Altena Battalion Samarinda KNIL Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment Prajoda Garrison Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Manado Garrison Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment Makassar Garrison Battalion KNIL Army Command ABDA Banjoewangi Base Force Batavia Base Force ML-KNIL Commandement Marine Madion Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion 3rd KNIL AA Battalion Merak Base Force 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Tjilitap Base Force Soerabaja Base Force Bandoeng Base Force MLD Loemafjang Base Force Djojakarta Base Force Malang Base Force Now Dave knows that the Dutch troops at Batavia are running low on supplies. Allied subs continue to drop off supplies at Batavia every turn. The Japanese suffer another 183 disabled/destroyed squads and now have casualties of over 1000 squads at Batavia. More xAKLs will attempt to bring in supplies to Batavia next turn. PHILIPPINES All quiet on Luzon. On Mindanao....Dave gets 1:1 odds at Cayagan: Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 15907 troops, 180 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 605 Defending force 9723 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 285 Japanese adjusted assault: 352 Allied adjusted defense: 345 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 909 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 68 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 50 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Allied ground losses: 863 casualties reported Squads: 27 destroyed, 28 disabled Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 19 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 10th Garrison Unit 38th Division 62nd Naval Guard Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 3rd/101st PA Battalion 4th/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 2nd/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 15229 troops, 180 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 549 Defending force 9074 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 247 Japanese adjusted assault: 284 Allied adjusted defense: 233 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 788 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 411 casualties reported Squads: 9 destroyed, 25 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 42 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 38th Division 10th Garrison Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 62nd Naval Guard Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 4th/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 2nd/101st PA Battalion 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps The end is near at Cayagan. CBI Dave continues to withdraw the 56th Division, Imperial Guards Division and 14th Tank from Myitkina towards Mandalay.....all the while being hammered by RAF and USAAF 2E/4E/FB. Im not sure if he has yet seen my 2000 AV trying to cut off his escape or if he is tired of having his frontline units plastered from the air on a daily basis. Its nice to have localized air superiority for a change. In China....the IJA panzer korps continues to rest at Canton. Meanwhile....my anti-tank trap at Wuchow is almost complete...the Chinese AT regiment is in the adjacent hex and the US Army 31st Infantry Regiment is closing in with its 18 AT guns. In central China....we are on the offensive again. A Chinese army with 2700 AV liberates Loyang and in the process destroys another RGC division. Next door at Tsiaotso....750 Chinese AV enter the hex and will launch a deliberate attack next turn. Another Chinese army with 2800 AV threatens Chengchow from the west. [image]local://upfiles/14495/781137368E5646CBA58AE24F71DF28C9.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/30/2011 3:28:32 AM)
5/10-5/11/42 CBI Allied bombers continue to plaster the IJA 56th and Imperial Guards divisions as they withdraw towards Mandalay. In China....some 750 Chinese AV liberate Tsiaotso and destroy another RGC division in the process. WE now have over 3000 AV on the march to Chengchow. With the current exception of Chengchow we have now nearly retaken our entire 12/7/42 start line with the addition of Nanchang and Ichang. More importantly...the liberation of Loyang and Tsiaotso in central China gives us another intrinsic 60 supplies/day plus another 46 supplies/day from light industry......it makes for a total of an additional 106 supplies/day or over 3000 additional supplies/mo. Ive turned on reinforcements for the Chinese LCUs at Tsiaotso plus the engineer unit there will commence construction of fortifications. Now over 3000 AV will advance on Chengchow and its 91 supplies/day. Elsewhere in China its very quiet. The 51 IJA LCUs at Canton(including the IJA panzer korps) continues to rest but I am concerned about the 40 plus transport AKs there.....Dave could easily transport this entire force out to sea to use against Luzon or even India. FORTRESS BATAVIA Japan bombards Batavia by land, sea and air this turn. Allied subs continue to land supplies daily at Batavia but it is a losing cause. Batavia should capitulate by the end of the month. Japanese surface, submarine and aerial assets sink 5 xAKL blockade runners on their way to Batavia. PHILIPPINES All quiet on Luzon and Mindanao save for aerial and ground bombardments. Only a single IJN CA bombarded San Fernando this turn so obviously Dave has all 3 of the bombardment BBs from this theatre along with at least an additional 3 CAs in transit to the south Pacific. OPERATION WATCHTOWER I pride myself on the superiority of operational planning over tactics in WitP but OPERATION WATCHTOWER has gone bad to worse over the past week. Maybe I am the one suffering from "victory disease" instead of Japan as Allied land and air forces have been ascendant in the CBI and the PHILIPPINES since the beginning of the war. Japan lost another 51 AC today vs 31 Allied AC. In A2A......Japan loses 37 AC to 10 Allied AC. Overall.....Japan has lost 20% more AC than the Allies and individual plane losses today include 21 A6M2s, 13 Oscars, 8 P-39Ds, 7 P-40Es, 4 Hurricane I Trops and 4 Idas. The operational plan for WATCHTOWER was for the Allies to neutalize 3 of the 4 Japanese level 4 AFs in the Solomons as Guadalcanal was secured. For some reason the USN SBDs tasked with suppresion of Shortlands never flew over a 6 day period and then the B-17s tasked with suppresion of Munda havent flown for over a week. The resultant situation has the Japanese with completely intact level 4 AFs at Rabaul and Shortlands and now the damage to the level 4 AF at Munda has been reduced to 39%. In additon.....CV Lexington has been placed on critical pierside repair since it was holed by an IJN sub launched torpedo and now the US Navy is down to 4 operational carriers. I dont understand why the B-17s at Luganville havent flown for over a week except for impossibly horrible weather....their morale is all 95% plus and the suply level at Luganville is 35,000 with only 18,000 required supplies. Ive won the current battle for Lunga and probably for all of Guadalcanal but I wonder if I am about to lose the battle for the Solomons. All Dave needs to do now is get a ridiculously overpowered naval bombardment TF anchored on the Kongo class BBs and he can shut down the Allied AF at Lunga while LRCAPing his bombardment TF(s) from Munda and even the level 1 AF at Russell Is. Then he would have massive land and naval based air superiority in the Solomon Sea and could not only retake Guadalcanal but also inflict a crippling loss on Allied carriers. Dave has been heavily reinforcing his positions on Russell Is. and Tulagi and it will be difficult for me to secure either base. Dave is just waiting for his AF at Munda to repair before making his move and I have maybe a week to prevent a catastrophic offensive. Dave knows that I have over 70 DBs and 150 fighters at Lunga.....the equivalent of over 2 unsinkable Allied carriers and this gives him pause to commit his precious KB. Also....I have positioned the 4 USN and 3 RN CVs a couple of hundred miles S of Russell Is......and this gives him pause to commit his bombardment TFs.....although it is painfully obvious that he is currently massing his naval bombardment strength for counterattack. Also....Dave has flooded the southern Solomons with at least 5-6 subs and they have already knocked out CV Lexington. I staged the TBDs from CV Lexington into the AF at Lunga...they are the most highly trained ASW AC in the US Navy with an average ASW experience of 70. For OPERATION WATCHTOWER to be successful......I need to quickly secure Russell Is. and Tulagi and also suppress Munda and Shortlands. Im taking a huge gamble next turn........Ive withdrawn the 70 DBs from Lunga and relaced them with nearly 80 B-26s. The B-26s will bomb Shortlands while the B-17s bomb Munda. Just in case the B-17s dont fly......I have ordered some 150 USN carrier SBDs to help close the AF at Munda. Dave has some 10 LCUs at Munda with over 60 guns.....if Japan has a lot of AA here it could cripple USN DB strength for along time. My Solomons campaign in this game is becoming as desperate as the RL battle for Guadalcanal. [image]local://upfiles/14495/79E19F60682242F89C2616BCC7847EFA.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (10/31/2011 4:27:16 PM)
5/12-5/13/42 OPERATION WATCHTOWER The B-17s based at Luganville flew for the first time in over a week and hit the Japanese AF at Munda. Some 150 carrier SBDs also struck the Munda AF and now it is 50% damaged. The 80 B-26s based at Lunga struck the AF at Shortlands leaving it 35% damaged and 27 Nellies were destroyed on the ground. I lost 10 SBD-3s in the attack so the level bombers will continue airfield suppression next turn while the DBs will be reserved for naval targets. Two USN amphibious TFs carrying 2 infantry regiments and the 2nd USMC Raiders will reach Russell Is. next turn......one TF will be commanded by Admiral Draemel while the other amphib TF will be commanded by Admiral Hill. Here is a list of IJN sub sightings last turn around Guadalcanal: TF 84 sighted by Japanese Float Plane at 114,141 near Kirakira TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 114, 139 near Lunga TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Type KD3A/B class SS at 114,137 TBD-1 Devastator reports periscope wake at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher from VCS-9/1 attacking a Japanese SS at 114,139 a Type J1 class SS is reported HIT OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher from VCS-9/4 attacking SS I-27 at 114,140 SS I-27 is reported HIT OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine wake at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports object near surface at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports diving submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 113, 138 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi PBY-5 Catalina reports diving submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports conning tower at 114, 137 near Tulagi PBY-5 Catalina reports radio transmissions at 114, 139 near Lunga C.XI-W reports turbulence in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi C.XI-W reports shape below surface at 113, 138 near Lunga C.XI-W reports radio transmissions at 114, 139 near Lunga C.XI-W reports suspected submarine at 113, 138 near Lunga TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports object near surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports oil slick at 113, 138 near Lunga TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine wake at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking SS I-27 at 114,140 TBD-1 Devastator reports oil slick at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports diving submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports turbulence in water at 113, 138 near Lunga TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 114, 139 near Lunga TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 114, 139 near Lunga Walrus II reports object under water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island Walrus II reports shape below surface at 114, 140 near Rennell Island Walrus II reports shadow in water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island Walrus II reports turbulence in water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher from VCS-9/2 attacking a Japanese SS at 114,139 OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports radio transmissions at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 113, 138 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi PBY-5 Catalina reports diving submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island PBY-5 Catalina reports turbulence in water at 113, 138 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports object near surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi PBY-5 Catalina reports submarine wake at 114, 140 near Rennell Island PBY-5 Catalina reports object near surface at 113, 138 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope at 114, 137 near Tulagi C.XI-W reports turbulence in water at 114, 139 near Lunga C.XI-W reports submarine wake at 113, 138 near Lunga Seagull V reports shape below surface at 114, 140 near Rennell Island TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Japanese SS at 114,137 TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine wake at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports oil slick at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports turbulence in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 114, 137 near Tulagi Walrus II sighting report: 4 Japanese ships at 114,142 near Rennell Island, speed 16, Moving West Walrus II reports submarine at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 115, 141 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports radio transmissions at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 172, 50 near Dutch Harbor SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports object under water at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope wake at 114, 137 near Tulagi PBY-5 Catalina reports suspected submarine at 115, 141 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina from VP-24 attacking SS RO-68 at 114,137 PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope wake at 114, 137 near Tulagi PBY-5 Catalina reports turbulence in water at 114, 139 near Lunga C.XI-W reports radio transmissions at 114, 137 near Tulagi C.XI-W reports conning tower at 114, 137 near Tulagi C.XI-W reports radio transmissions at 114, 137 near Tulagi Seagull V reports turbulence in water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking SS RO-68 at 114,137 SS RO-68 is reported HIT TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Japanese SS at 114,137 TBD-1 Devastator reports turbulence in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking SS I-8 at 114,137 TBD-1 Devastator reports suspected submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Japanese SS at 114,137 TBD-1 Devastator reports diving submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi TBD-1 Devastator reports conning tower at 114, 137 near Tulagi Walrus II reports periscope at 114, 140 near Rennell Island Walrus II reports suspected submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga Walrus II reports object under water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island Walrus II reports suspected submarine at 115, 141 near Kirakira Walrus II reports turbulence in water at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine wake at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher from VCS-9/4 attacking a Type L4 class SS at 114,139 a Type KD6A class SS is reported HIT OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 113, 138 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine wake at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 115, 141 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 115, 141 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 115, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 114, 137 near Tulagi SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 114, 140 near Rennell Island SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports diving submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports diving submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi PBY-5 Catalina from VP-24 attacking SS I-27 at 114,140 C.XI-W reports turbulence in water at 113, 138 near Lunga C.XI-W reports periscope at 113, 138 near Lunga C.XI-W reports diving submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi C.XI-W reports suspected submarine at 114, 137 near Tulagi Seagull V reports periscope wake at 115, 141 near Kirakira With all the IJN sub activity Im withdrawing the Allied carriers from the Coral Sea and especially the narrow confines of the waters off Guadalcanal and Russell Is. The Allied carriers will be repositioned about 200 miles NE of Lunga where they can cover the offloading ops at both Russell Is. and Lunga and also protect along the most likely direction of an IJN carrier thrust in the vicinity of Ontong Java. PBYs continue to fly in troops, supplies and engineers to Rossel and Deboyne Is. Two AVDs reach Rossel Is. this turn and a group of PBYs is staged in....this will extend our search radius all the way up to Kavieng. FORTRESS BATAVIA Japan hits Batavia again with aerial, naval and ground bombardments. Eight Allied transport subs carrying over 400 supplies will reach Batavia next turn. [image]local://upfiles/14495/C591A47FDD3B4EA7B7CB4F0811B9BACB.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA..........DAY ONE (11/2/2011 6:34:25 AM)
5/14-5/15/42 BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA........OPENING MOVES Admiral Draemel's and Admiral Hill's Amphibious TFs landed 2 US Army Regiments and the USMC 2nd Raiders on Russell Is. on 5/14/42: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 14, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Russell Islands Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Pensacola CL Marblehead CL Achilles CL Leander DD Morris APD Humphreys DD Jarvis Allied ground losses: Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) CA Pensacola firing at 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment CL Marblehead firing at 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment DD Morris firing at 7th Indpt SNLF Coy DD Morris fired at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Russell Islands TF 188 troops unloading over beach at Russell Islands, 113,136 Allied ground losses: 527 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 78 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 13 (0 destroyed, 13 disabled) Vehicles lost 14 (0 destroyed, 14 disabled) 10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 2nd Marine Raider Bn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Russell Islands Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Indianapolis CL Colombo CL Capetown APD Rathburne DD McCall CA Indianapolis firing at 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment CL Colombo firing at 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment CL Capetown firing at 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Russell Islands TF 222 troops unloading over beach at Russell Islands, 113,136 Allied ground losses: 333 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 48 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 48 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 18 (0 destroyed, 18 disabled) Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled) The losses were heavy as the Allied formations were woefully unprepped for the assault....something close to 40% of the squads were disabled but the Allies still have over 200 AV ashore. They are fatigued and disrupted at the moment so we will wait for one turn before launching an assault against the 2500 Japanese defenders. B-25s and Hudson IIIas based at Luganville continue to pound the Japanese defenders of Russell Is. around the clock. USAAF heavy bombers based at Luganville again hit the Jap AF at Munda and kept it at 50% damage. I had replaced all the DBs at Lunga with B-26s to suppress Shortlands but this turn I placed them on naval/airfield attack at 2000' just in case KB showed up. KB was nowhere in sight on 5/14 but the B-26s managed to hit some small IJN transport TFs in the Solomons: Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Allied aircraft B-26 Marauder x 12 No Allied losses Japanese Ships CM Tsugaru, Bomb hits 1, on fire PB Koei Maru DMS W-1 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft B-26 Marauder x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships CM Tsugaru, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft B-26 Marauder x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships ACM Hanata Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft B-26 Marauder x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships CM Tsugaru, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CM Tsugaru I had over 80 B-26s based at Lunga and the majority didnt fly....there was no further suppression of Shortlands and the base damage there has been reduced to 21%. I had spotted several groups of IJN ships off the western tip of New Britain last turn but was unable to ID them as they were beyond the effective range of Allied naval search. I got a PBY base up and running at Rossel Is. this turn to extend Allied naval search up as far north as Kavieng but it was one turn too late. On 5/15/42 what appears to be the majority of the IJN Combined Fleet materialized exactly 7 hexes W of Lunga and launched a carrier strike against the last reported position of the Allied carriers 2 hexes S of Lunga. Dave was hoping to stage a carrier strike at 7 hex range of Lunga as he knew that 90% of the fighters at Lunga were USAAF fighters with a max range of 6 hexes.....he thought that the Allied DBs at Lunga would be ineffective without 7 hex ranged fighters and then he would be able to overwhelm the Allied carriers. I had left a squadron of 6 USMC F2A-3s at Lunga on escort hoping it would be enough for the B-26s to pass their moral die roll but evidently it wasnt......none of the 80 highly trained(70 plus low naval exp) B-26s sortied on 5/15/42. Fortunately....this turn I has repositioned the Allied carriers about 200 miles NE of Lunga to escape from the IJN sub menace around the waters off Guadalcanal. The Allied and IJN carriers were out of range of each other on 5/15/42. Also it was fortunate that the USN amphib TFs off Russell Is. were covered by rain squalls on 5/15/42.....not only were the amphib TFs saved from carrier attack but the USSAF fighters at Lunga had been put at 90% LRCAP over Russell Is. So the USAAF and USMC fighters at Lunga stayed home instead and took on the Japanese carrier strikes against shipping off Guadalcanal: Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 50 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 93 B5M1 Mabel x 6 B5N2 Kate x 27 D3A1 Val x 45 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk IA x 10 P-39D Airacobra x 140 P-40E Warhawk x 20 F4F-3 Wildcat x 8 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 21 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed P-39D Airacobra: 8 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed Allied Ships CL Sumatra DD Gwin, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage AO Sabine, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Preston DD Ralph Talbot, Bomb hits 1 AO Kaskaskia, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Crane, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires DD Vampire DD Gridley CL Java AO Neosho, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires AO Platte, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 16 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VMF-211 Det with F4F-3 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes 49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (20 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 17 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes 28th CG/11th FS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 23 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 8th FG/35th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (21 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 21 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 19 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (19 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 19 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (18 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (23 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 18 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes 8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 20 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Crane Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Neosho Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Platte Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Kaskaskia Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Sabine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 B5N2 Kate x 27 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 1 Martlet II x 8 Kittyhawk IA x 4 P-39D Airacobra x 4 F4F-3 Wildcat x 10 F4F-4 Wildcat x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD Crosby DD Express DD Isis, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 8 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead VMF-211 Det with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 62 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/35th FS with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 1 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead No.800 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Raid is overhead VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead 4 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Isis I had moved the replenishment TF AOs to Lunga to refuel the amphib and surface TFs in the area.....I lost 4 of the big AOs and that really hurts....they are the cream of USN AOs at this point in the war and they are worth 30 ponts apiece. Still....its better to lose 4 AOs than 4 CVs and the Allied carriers would have surely been outnumbered without the assistance of the USMC and USAAF squadrons at Lunga. FoW was really off for the losses suffered in this attack. The plane loss info screen shows that Japan lost 48 A6M2s in A2A combat and another 11 A6M2s to ops for a total of 59 A6M2s.....that is more than the stock number of A6M2s carried on 3 IJN CVs. The info screen also shows that the Allies lost 19 P-39Ds in A2A combat and another 12 P-39Ds to ops for a total of 31 P-39Ds. Once again USAAF P-39Ds flying at 10,000' are able to hold their own against the A6M2s. A couple of observations here......Allied radar spotted the Jap carrier raid at Lunga at 160 nm for a 50 min advance warning and over 170 Allied fighters were able to scramble. Even though the Allies have the most sophisticated radar in the world at this point in the war and put up over a 170 plane CAP and destroyed 59 A6M2s......the 93 A6M2s were able to engage the Allied CAP and only 1 Kate and no Vals were lost in A2A combat. So Im thinking that if I can keep the level 4 AF of Lunga between the IJN carriers and the Allied carriers and it can hold the equivalent of 2 carrier loads of AC........ a force of 100 fighters and 100 bombers should get through regardless of the amount of Japanese CAP flown. Im assuming that if Japan has 7 CVs, 2 CVLs and 2 or 3 CVEs and Dave split up his carrier capable A6M2 squadrons to put an extra 9 Zeros on each CV I still dont see the Japanese carriers having much more than 230-240 A6M2s. If 59 were destroyed last turn then there could be maybe 180 A6M2s left. If Dave uses 90 A6M2s to escort his carrier strike then that would leave only 90 A6M2s for fleet defense. I think that maybe 50 Allied fighters would be necessary to get the majority of the DBs to target. The only fly in the ointment here is that Dave has 100 fighters at Rabaul and is probably able to stage in fresh fighter groups to his carriers. The other issue is the vulnerability of the Lunga AF to IJN naval bombardments. The IJN surface TF(s) is crrently 9 hexes from Lunga. If he uses Kongo class BBs and CAs he could bombard Lunga in the night before an Allied airstrike could be launched. If I could put enough surface TFs at Lunga to use up the op points for the IJN bombardment TF then I could get in one massive airstrike before Lunga is bombarded. Another fly in the ointment here.....Dave just built a level 1 AF at Tulagi this turn and staged in a lot of AC....probably A6M2s to LRCAP his bombardment TF. So here are the Allied options for the the next turn: 1) Stay and fight....put powerful surface TFs at Lunga and the entry hex to Lunga to slow down the IJN bombardment TF. Load up Lunga with 70 DBs and 130 fighters for both escort and also CAP over defensive surface TFs and position the 7 Allied CVs to engage the IJN CVs _ONLY_ if the IJN CVs would also be in range of Lunga. 2) Withdraw all shipping and combatant ships from the Coral Sea and the Solomons towards Luganville and withdraw all AC from Lunga. The advantage here is that I have several mutually supporting AFs in the New Hebrides and New Caledonia so could have an air defense in depth ... ie DBs at 7 hex range, B-26s at 11 hex range and Hudson IIIas at 14 hex range. Dave would close down Lunga AF for sure and Im not sure when Id be able to reopen it. The US Army and USMC troops on Russell Is. would be out on a limb. Dave moved 2 subs right into Luganville port last turn to scout out Allied shipping there: Submarine attack near Luganville at 120,150 Japanese Ships SS I-18 Allied Ships xAP West Point xAP West Point is sighted by SS I-18 SS I-18 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP West Point -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near Luganville at 120,150 Japanese Ships SS I-18 Allied Ships xAP West Point xAP West Point is sighted by SS I-18 SS I-18 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP West Point -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near Luganville at 120,150 Japanese Ships SS I-18 Allied Ships AE Shasta AE Shasta is sighted by SS I-18 SS I-18 launches 2 torpedoes at AE Shasta Dave might have gotten intel that CV Lexington was in port...Im sure he figured that is where I sent here after she was torpedoed. Dave could posiibly just move KB south and hit Luganville port to take out Lex and any other shipping present. I had Lex on critical pierside repair and now changed it to critical ready repair but she will still be incapacitated for 2 more turns. If I withdraw the Allied carriers towards Luganville not only can I cover the repair of Lady Lex but in a couple turns she could put to sea with moderate damge and carry another 100 carrier AC into battle to help even up the odds. Dave is out of town for a couple days so I have time to consider this possiblities here at such a critical point in our game. FORTRESS BATAVIA Dave orders yet another 1:2 assault here: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 69954 troops, 805 guns, 520 vehicles, Assault Value = 2526 Defending force 39054 troops, 496 guns, 164 vehicles, Assault Value = 1022 Japanese adjusted assault: 714 Allied adjusted defense: 1795 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 2954 casualties reported Squads: 20 destroyed, 119 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 209 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled) Vehicles lost 74 (1 destroyed, 73 disabled) Allied ground losses: 2365 casualties reported Squads: 31 destroyed, 91 disabled Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 229 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Guns lost 17 (6 destroyed, 11 disabled) Vehicles lost 29 (18 destroyed, 11 disabled) Assaulting units: 5th Division 4th Engineer Co 21st Division 18th Division 33rd Division III/66th Nav Gd /2 8th Tank Regiment 16th Naval Guard Unit 2nd Division 1st Engineer Co 4th Div /7 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: VI KNIL Battalion Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Samarinda KNIL Battalion 1st Regt Cavalerie 4th KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment Manado Garrison Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment Van Altena Battalion VII KNIL Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment Marinier Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Prajoda Garrison Battalion Afdeling Ritman Roodenburg Battalion Makassar Garrison Battalion Bandoeng Base Force Commandement Marine Banjoewangi Base Force Loemafjang Base Force 3rd KNIL AA Battalion 1 ML-KNIL Aviation ABDA MLD Tjilitap Base Force Batavia Base Force Merak Base Force Soerabaja Base Force Djojakarta Base Force ML-KNIL Madion Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion KNIL Army Command Malang Base Force Japan suffers another 139 disabled /destroyed squads here for a total of more than 1150 squads in the battle for Batavia.....nearly 3 divisions. PHILIPPINES Japan launches another pair of deliberate attacks at cayagan: Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 15640 troops, 183 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 572 Defending force 8818 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 235 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 325 Allied adjusted defense: 273 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 293 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 237 casualties reported Squads: 12 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 62nd Naval Guard Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit 38th Division 10th Garrison Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy Defending units: 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 4th/101st PA Battalion 2nd/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 15173 troops, 183 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 533 Defending force 8494 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 215 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 271 Allied adjusted defense: 373 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 615 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 56 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 221 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 38th Division 10th Garrison Unit 62nd Naval Guard Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy Defending units: 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 2nd/101st PA Battalion 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps Thats another 108 disabled /destroyed squads here at Cayagan.....the 38th Division cant being doing very well after all these combat losses. [image]local://upfiles/14495/B9C5A9F8F1814D11B3CDB4E21B8FF778.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA..........DAYS 2&3 (11/5/2011 2:29:55 AM)
5/16-5/17/42 BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA....DAYS 2 & 3 After debating the situation in the south Pacific for some time I made the painful decision to withdraw the Allied carriers to the SE. I felt that even though KB had been dealt a serious blow to its fighter arm last turn the risk of engaging some 360 carrier bombers.....225 of them Kates..... was too risky without the presence of CV Lexington. I ordered the 2 amphib TFs at Russell Is. to cease unloading and depart at high speed along with their surface escorts to the E and withdrew all the bombers from Lunga. I left some 170 fighters at Lunga to CAP some CLs and DDs and 2 PT squadrons that stayed behind to slow down a possible IJN naval bombardment against the AF. My thought here was that I hoped to ambush a Japanese carrier strike against the Allied surface elemnts left behind and attrition the A6M2s and Kates a bit before engaging them with the Allied carriers. While Japan retained a huge advantage in carrier bombers....Dave evidently didnt want to chance a carrier engagement with his fighter arm decimated and withdrew at speed to Rabaul. Instead of bombarding Lunga.....Dave sent his BBs to bombard the Allied troops at Russell Is.: Night Time Surface Combat, near Russell Islands at 113,136, Range 4,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses No Allied losses Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Haruna, Shell hits 2 BB Hiei, Shell hits 2 BB Kirishima, Shell hits 3 DD Usugumo DD Shirayuki DD Uranami DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CA Pensacola, Shell hits 7, and is sunk CL Leander, Shell hits 3, on fire CL Achilles, Shell hits 4 CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1 DD Morris DD Jarvis, Shell hits 5 APD Humphreys DMS Hopkins, Shell hits 6, and is sunk DMS Zane, Shell hits 7, and is sunk AP American Legion AP U.S. Grant, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage AP President Jackson, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk AK Betelgeuse Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching! Allied TF begins to get underway Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 4,000 yards Range closes to 24,000 yards... Range closes to 22,000 yards... Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 18,000 yards... Range closes to 16,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 12,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 10,000 yards... Range closes to 9,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards Range closes to 6,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards Matsuki I. crosses the 'T' BB Kirishima engages CL Achilles at 4,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Pensacola at 4,000 yards BB Haruna engages CL Achilles at 4,000 yards CL Leander engages BB Kirishima at 4,000 yards DD Ayanami engages CA Pensacola at 4,000 yards DD Uranami engages CA Pensacola at 4,000 yards CA Pensacola engages DD Shirayuki at 4,000 yards BB Hiei engages DMS Hopkins at 4,000 yards DD Ayanami engages AP U.S. Grant at 4,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards BB Kirishima engages CA Pensacola at 3,000 yards BB Hiei engages CA Pensacola at 3,000 yards BB Haruna engages CA Pensacola at 3,000 yards BB Kongo engages CA Pensacola at 3,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Jarvis at 3,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Morris at 3,000 yards BB Hiei engages DMS Zane at 3,000 yards DD Usugumo engages DD Morris at 3,000 yards DD Uranami engages AP President Jackson at 3,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards CA Pensacola sunk by BB Kirishima at 2,000 yards BB Hiei engages CL Leander at 2,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Jarvis at 2,000 yards DD Uranami engages DD Morris at 2,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DMS Zane at 2,000 yards DD Jarvis engages DD Usugumo at 2,000 yards AP President Jackson sunk by BB Haruna at 2,000 yards DD Uranami engages AP U.S. Grant at 2,000 yards CL Marblehead engages DD Usugumo at 2,000 yards BB Hiei engages CL Leander at 2,000 yards BB Haruna engages AP U.S. Grant at 2,000 yards DD Jarvis engages DD Uranami at 2,000 yards DD Morris engages DD Ayanami at 2,000 yards DMS Zane sunk by BB Kirishima at 2,000 yards DMS Hopkins sunk by BB Kirishima at 2,000 yards BB Haruna engages APD Humphreys at 2,000 yards BB Kirishima engages CL Achilles at 2,000 yards Allied Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... I ended up losing CA Pensacola, 2 DMS and AP Grant and AP Jackson. These losses were totally unnecessary as I evidently ordered only 1 of the 2 amphib TFs to stop unloading.....one TF kept unloading and stayed behind only to get mauled. Then the IJN bombardment TF hit our troops on Russell Is.: Night Naval bombardment of Russell Islands at 113,136 Japanese Ships BB Kirishima BB Hiei BB Haruna BB Kongo DD Ayanami DD Uranami DD Shirayuki DD Usugumo Allied ground losses: 87 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kirishima BB Kirishima firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Hiei BB Hiei firing at 161st Infantry Regiment BB Haruna firing at 161st Infantry Regiment BB Kongo firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Ayanami firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment DD Uranami firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Shirayuki firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment DD Usugumo firing at 161st Infantry Regiment The IJN carriers evidently withdrew so rapidly to the north that they were out of range of the shot up amphib TF at dawn and the rest of the amphib TF got away. One squadron of B-26s was left behind at Lunga and when they hit the Shortlands AF they tangled with elements of A6M2 squadrons from all 6 CVs of KB....Dave evidently placed his fighters on 10% LRCAP over Shortlands. The B-17s at Luganville hit Munda hard and now Munda A is 75% damaged while Shortlands is 31 % damaged. I had rested the troops on the beach at Russell Is. for a turn to drop their fatigue and disruption but that was a mistake.....the IJN naval bombardment kept their disruption and fatigue high and Dave was able to air transport in another 800 troops ......bringing the total of IJA troops at Russel Is. to 3300..... and this occurred even though I had heavily LRCAPed Russell Is. and turned back dozens of Topsys. I think that my operational plan of "smash and grab" to take the Japanese AFs in the Solomons has failed for 3 main reasons: 1) I didnt appreciate the ability of Japan to air transport massive amounts of men and materiel at this point in the war. The Solomons were a sleepy backwater for Japan a month ago when I started planning this op and now Dave has air lifted thousands of troops, construction engineers and BFs to Shortlands/Munda/Russell/Tulagi even though I had dominated the sea lanes. 2) I didnt allow for inclement weather to interfere with my timetable for shutting down the level 4 AFs at Munda and Shortlands. My 4Es and DBs didnt fly for weeks at a time due to unfavorable weather. 3) I didnt allow for losing an USN CV to sub launched torpedoes. The resulting disparity in carrier strength between Japan and the Allies is almost too great even with the presence of unsinkable Lunga with 250 AC. Im going all out next turn to take one last gamble to capture Russell Is.....my 209 AV will shock attack whatever Japan has on the island by the time land combat phase rolls around.....again Im heavily LRCAPing Russell Is. to prevent air transport of additional troops. In the screenshot you can see what looks to be a Japanese barge force loading at Shortlands. Ive detached CL Columbo and 3 DDs on what amounts to a suicide op to prevent naval reinforcement of Russell. CL Columbo and DDs will also bombard Russell. Some 80 B-26s and 80 DBs were staged back ontp Lunga AF....they will be placed on naval/ground against Russell Is. and 80 4Es at Luganville will also carpet bomb the Japanese troops on that hapless island. This action at Russell Is. has certainly gotten Daves attention and Im using that distraction to launh yet another amphib assault....this time next turn against Tulagi. Last time I checked Tulagi 2 turns ago there were only 720 troops there. Im going back to my original plan to build at many mutually supporting bases in the Southern Solomons/Coral Sea as possible. Im continuing to build up Rossel Is.....the level 1 port there is 29% complete. I also had been stockpiling supplies at Rennell Is. back in March and early April.....there are some 300 supplies there now and I will start using PBYs to fly in troops this turn. I had thought to bypass Rennel since since it has a zero port rating and easier pickings seemed to be available.....but as a backup plan it can easily build a large AF but will require amphib lift to be developed and kept supplied.If I can build up Lunga/Tassafaronga/Rossel/Rennell and hopefully Tulagi that should be enough to counter Japanese bases in the central and northern Solomons. Meanwhile.....Im hoping to keep the Allied carriers out of battle until temporary repairs have been completed on Lady Lex. I kept her on critical pierside repair as its too dangerous to bring her out of the port now.....Dave had 3 subs in port and another half dozen subs in close proximity. SS I-18 attacked 2 Allied ships repeatedly last turn and then put a torp in CL Honolulu this turn: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Luganville at 120,150 Japanese Ships SS I-18 Allied Ships CL Java DD Kortenaer DD Evertsen SS I-18 is sighted by escort I-18 bottoming out .... DD Kortenaer fails to find sub and abandons search DD Evertsen fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Evertsen fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Evertsen fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Evertsen fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Evertsen fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Luganville at 120,150 Japanese Ships SS I-18, hits 6 Allied Ships DD King DD Kane SS I-18 launches 2 torpedoes at DD King I-18 bottoming out .... DD Kane fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kane fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kane attacking submerged sub .... DD Kane cannot establish contact with SS I-18 DD Kane cannot reach attack position over SS I-18 DD Kane attacking submerged sub .... DD Kane cannot establish contact with SS I-18 DD Kane attacking submerged sub .... DD Kane is out of ASW ammo DD Kane is out of ASW ammo DD Kane is out of ASW ammo Escort abandons search for sub Sub attack near Luganville at 120,150 Japanese Ships SS I-18, hits 11, heavy damage Allied Ships CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AK Alchiba xAP Maori DD Lamson SS I-18 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Honolulu DD Lamson attacking submerged sub .... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub At least I hit SS I-18 with 17 DCs and 2 bombs from ASW AC so I think she is sinking but there are 2 additional subs in the harbor including SSX Ha-3. I figure that CV Lexington will take another 3-4 turns to complete temporary repairs and I will use that time to launch an all out ASW war in the waters between Guadalcanal and Luganville.....some 20 DDs and over 100 ASW will take part. The 4 RN flattops and 4 USN CVs will operate to the south of Guadalcanal until CV Lex can join them. They will be in a position to hit any IJN bombardment TF that tries to close Lunga AF but will try to avoid direct engagement with IJN carriers unless they can be suppported by the Cactus air force on Guadalcanal. Im flying the DB squadrons fron the carriers to Luganville to take on replacements and rotating in USMC DB squadrons. There is a critical shortage of SBD-3s so I just withdrew a USMC squadrom to add their DBs to the force pool. There are also a critical shortage of 7 hex ranged carrier fighters so Im carefully hoarding each and every one....even the F2F-3a Buffaloes. [image]local://upfiles/14495/3126D917A01F4DE4A898CD0D3F3ED157.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> FORTRESS BATAVIA (11/5/2011 3:52:26 AM)
5/16-5/17/42 FORTRESS BATAVIA Dave must be getting concerned about the Allied counteroffensive in the south Pacific. He launched back to back attacks at Batavia last turn and this turn for the first time: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 68216 troops, 803 guns, 520 vehicles, Assault Value = 2418 Defending force 37263 troops, 487 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 927 Japanese adjusted assault: 828 Allied adjusted defense: 1837 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 862 casualties reported Squads: 9 destroyed, 111 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 146 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled Vehicles lost 61 (2 destroyed, 59 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1749 casualties reported Squads: 18 destroyed, 99 disabled Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 136 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled Guns lost 4 (3 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 21 (17 destroyed, 4 disabled) Assaulting units: 2nd Division 33rd Division 8th Tank Regiment 5th Division 21st Division 1st Engineer Co 18th Division 16th Naval Guard Unit III/66th Nav Gd /2 4th Engineer Co 4th Div /7 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion VI KNIL Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment Prajoda Garrison Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment Afdeling Ritman Marinier Battalion Samarinda KNIL Battalion Van Altena Battalion VII KNIL Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment 1st Regt Cavalerie Roodenburg Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment Manado Garrison Battalion Makassar Garrison Battalion 1 ML-KNIL Aviation 1st KNIL AA Battalion Madion Base Force Tjilitap Base Force Loemafjang Base Force Merak Base Force Soerabaja Base Force MLD Commandement Marine KNIL Army Command Banjoewangi Base Force Bandoeng Base Force Djojakarta Base Force 3rd KNIL AA Battalion ABDA Batavia Base Force ML-KNIL Malang Base Force Both sides lose about 120 squads. Japan has now suffered casualties of over 1270 squads in the assault on Batavia. CBI Lots of action here. In Burma.....56th and Imperial Guards divisions complete their withdrawal to Katha. There are 11 IJA LCUs in katha now including some 250 tanks and over 300 guns.....looks like Dave has massed some AA units here so Im sutting down the RAF and USAAF bombers here for bit. Besides...it looks like the Allied bombers will soon be needed in China. With the IJN Combined fleet now fully committed in the South Pacific I am stripping my coastal defenses in NE India and sending more troops overland through the jungle into Burma. In southern China.....the IJA 51 LCU telephone pole remains stationary. In central China....Japan orders a bombardment to evaluate relative strength at Wuchang: Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 36622 troops, 441 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 1292 Defending force 76270 troops, 298 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3049 Japanese ground losses: 14 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 70th Division 3rd Division 36th Division 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 4th Mortar Battalion 1st Mortar Battalion 2nd Ind. Engineer Regiment 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 54th JAAF AF Bn Defending units: 20th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese/A Corps 94th Chinese/A Corps 37th Chinese Corps 75th Chinese Corps 58th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese/C Corps 73rd Chinese Corps 10th Chinese/B Corps 99th Chinese Corps 94th Chinese/B Corps 9th War Area 19th Group Army 6th War Area 29th Group Army Looks like I can easily pull 1000 AV out of here to help renew the Chinese counteroffensive in south central China. Chinese troops retake Chengchow as Dave withdraws his troops so that he can mass farther to the north. Chenchow gives us another 91 supplies/day or 2700 supplies/mo. I had been considering overruning Kaifeng(5000 IJA troops) but Dave has created a situation farther to the north. After failing in offensives to capture Sian from the south and southeast.......Dave's newest offensive is coming from the east of Sian and has now railed over 6000 AV into Taiyuan and will attack my 1400 AV in the mountains just W of the city next turn. I began to withdraw last turn when I first noticed the build up and Ive moved 16 of the 48 required to exit the hex....so Dave will get 2 attacks in on me before I can exit the hex but I think the Chinese can hold on. I liked the mountain hex W of Taiyuan as it was both a chokepoint for 2 roads and also was in 3x terrain.....but its too close to a Japanese railhead. Im losing the game of Railroad Tycoon here mostly because the Chinese have no railroads in the north. As I withdraw closer to Sian Japan will be farther away from its rail terminus.....and his 6000 AV could be uncomfortably out of position should I renew my offensive to the coast. So Im puling back some 4000-5000 AV from Ichang/Nanyang/Lyang/Tsiaotso/Chengchow to build a new defensive line E of Sian. And Im renewing the Chinese offensive to the sea in south central China. [image]local://upfiles/14495/E92B8CA0508246ECAA8E868D3DE22D0A.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA..........DAYS 4 & 5 (11/5/2011 6:00:53 PM)
5/18-5/19/42 BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA.......DAYS 4 & 5 Huge shift in momentum over the last 24 hours. Russell Is. is cordoned off by sea with CL Columbo and 3 DDs and by air transport with P-39D/P-40E LRCAP. "Washing machine Charlie" and friends pay CL Columbo a visit durinfg the night: Night Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 24 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged Allied Ships CL Colombo DD McCall DD Drayton Aircraft Attacking: 24 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 13000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes CL Columbo bombards Russell Is. and then the B-26s and B-17s work over the Japanese defenders there. I had expected KB to stay in port for 1 turn to refuel/rearm/take on A6M2 replacements but they storm right back into the Coral SEa with a vengeance: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 112,136 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 39 B5N2 Kate x 13 D3A1 Val x 9 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk IA x 2 P-39D Airacobra x 21 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged D3A1 Val: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CL Colombo, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Mahan DD Drayton Aircraft Attacking: 5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 28th CG/11th FS with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 8th FG/35th FS with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead CL Columbo and the Cactus air force LRCAP prevent Japan from seriously reinforcing Russell Is. When the USMC and US Army troops launch their shock attack the result is not even close: Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 5818 troops, 106 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 213 Defending force 2006 troops, 21 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 63 Allied adjusted assault: 165 Japanese adjusted defense: 21 Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2) Allied forces CAPTURE Russell Islands !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-) fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 643 casualties reported Squads: 6 destroyed, 24 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 15 disabled Engineers: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled) Allied ground losses: 168 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Assaulting units: 161st Infantry Regiment 2nd Marine Raider Battalion 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 2nd USMC Parachute Battalion Defending units: 7th Indpt SNLF Coy Maizuru 1st SNLF /1 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 5602 troops, 106 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 200 Defending force 1362 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37 Allied adjusted assault: 176 Japanese adjusted defense: 5 Allied assault odds: 35 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), preparation(-) fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 432 casualties reported Squads: 9 destroyed, 25 disabled Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Units destroyed 1 Allied ground losses: 45 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 2nd Marine Raider Battalion 161st Infantry Regiment 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 2nd USMC Parachute Battalion Defending units: 7th Indpt SNLF Coy Maizuru 1st SNLF /1 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25th Ind. Engineer Regiment Wiped Out at Russell Islands by attrition!!! The USMC paratroops will mop up the remaining Japanese troops on the island while the infantry regiments rest and begin recovering all the squads that wee disabled in the rushed landings. PBYs at Luganville will begin flying in EAB engineers to repair the level 1 AF at Russell Is. and begin building a level 1 wharf. Meanwhile on Guadalcanal.....USMC raiders and a US Army tank battalion continue their march through thje jungle to Tassafaronga....they should reach their objective in a couple of turns and can then mop up the remains of 6 Japanese LCUs there. Lunga AF is expanded to level 5 and a Air HQ with a 5 raduis is flown in.....now Lunga has reached the magic 10 level and has over 300 aviation support so can conduct virtually unlimited flight ops. Another Allied amphibious TF lands 2 US Army regiments at Tulagi: Pre-Invasion action off Tulagi 23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Vincennes CL Mauritius APD Lawrence DMS Perry Allied ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled CA Vincennes firing at 7th Base Force CL Mauritius firing at 7th Base Force Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Tulagi TF 427 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 114,137 Allied ground losses: 660 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 72 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 62 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 34 (0 destroyed, 34 disabled) Vehicles lost 82 (1 destroyed, 81 disabled) Motorized Support lost overboard during unload of 108th Infantry Rgt /3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tulagi 12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Vincennes CL Mauritius APD Lawrence DMS Perry CA Vincennes firing at 1st Ind. Engineer Regiment CL Mauritius firing at 7th Base Force Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards Again the Allies suffer high disablements due to the rushed nature of the invasion and the lack of prep......still we have 170 AV ashore and a shock attack against 2500 Japanese defenders(was only 720 defenders 2 turns ago) will be ordered next turn after heavy aerial bombardment by B-26s/HudsonIIIas/B-25cs/B-17s. "Washing machine Charlie" and his buddies pay another nightime visit on the amphib TF at Tulagi: Night Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 33 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged Allied Ships CA Vincennes AK Alhena CL Mauritius APD Fox Aircraft Attacking: 33 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes P-39s from Lunga will LRCAP CL Emerald and 2 DDs will blockade Tulago to try to prevent any further Japanese reinforcements from arriving. There is an IJN fast transport TF off Shortlands and I dont want it to arrive at Tulagi. Tulagi now has a level 1 AF in addition to a level 1 port and Dave is using it to extend his naval search all the way south to Luganville, Efate and even New Caledonia. If I can capture the level 1 AF and port there next turn the Allies will be able to begin breathing a little easier. PBYs continue to fly troops/enginneers/supplies into Rossel Is. and Rennell Is. Down south in the waters between Guadalcanal and Luganville the sub/ASW war continues to rage. We have sunk 2-3 subs over the last 2 turns but this turn an IJN sub sunk an xAP carrying a fighter air HQ just 2 hexes short of Luganville......that really hurt and reminds me that even though I am very rushed to bring reinforcements into the theatre there needs to be some redundancy in transport even at the expense of expediency. THE VOYAGE OF VADM YASUO INOUE VABD Yasuo Inoue was in command of a small surface TF including CL Kiso, CL Tenryu and 2 DDs. Well over the last 2 days VADM Inoue put in a Tanaka-esque performance. First his surface TF took on the remnants of the CL Columbo TF: Night Time Surface Combat, near Munda at 111,136, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Kiso CL Tenryu DD Akatsuki DD Hibiki Allied Ships DD McCall, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Mahan, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Drayton, Shell hits 1, on fire Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 17% moonlight: 1,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 14,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... Range closes to 2,000 yards... Range closes to 1,000 yards... CL Tenryu engages DD McCall at 1,000 yards DD Mahan engages CL Tenryu at 1,000 yards DD McCall sunk by DD Hibiki at 1,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages DD Mahan at 1,000 yards Range increases to 2,000 yards DD Hibiki engages DD Drayton at 2,000 yards Task forces break off... Then they sailed to Lunga and engaged the PT squadrons defending the port: Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Kiso, Shell hits 1 CL Tenryu, Shell hits 1 DD Akatsuki DD Hibiki Allied Ships PT-34 PT-35 PT-36 PT-48 PT-59 PT-60 PT-61 PT Q-112 Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 17% moonlight: 1,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 3,000 yards... Range closes to 1,000 yards... Valdes W. gains tactical advantage CL Tenryu engages PT Q-112 at 1,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT Q-112 at 1,000 yards DD Hibiki engages PT Q-112 at 1,000 yards PT-35 engages CL Kiso at 1,000 yards Range increases to 2,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT Q-112 at 2,000 yards DD Hibiki engages PT Q-112 at 2,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 295 encounters mine field at Lunga (114,138) Japanese Ships CL Tenryu, Mine hits 1 Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Kiso CL Tenryu DD Akatsuki DD Hibiki Allied Ships PT-37, Shell hits 2, and is sunk PT-38 PT-39 PT-40 PT-43, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PT-44, Shell hits 2, and is sunk PT-45, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PT-46, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PT-47, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Reduced sighting due to 28% moonlight Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 28% moonlight: 2,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... Range closes to 2,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards PT-46 engages CL Tenryu at 2,000 yards PT-47 engages DD Akatsuki at 2,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-45 at 2,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-46 at 2,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages PT-46 at 2,000 yards PT-45 sunk by DD Hibiki at 2,000 yards PT-44 engages CL Tenryu at 2,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-39 at 2,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-47 at 5,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-37 at 5,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards DD Hibiki engages PT-46 at 6,000 yards PT-43 engages CL Tenryu at 6,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-40 at 6,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-47 at 6,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT-47 at 6,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT-44 at 6,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-43 at 6,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-37 at 6,000 yards Range closes to 4,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-47 at 4,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT-46 at 4,000 yards PT-44 sunk by DD Hibiki at 4,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages PT-47 at 4,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-37 at 4,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards PT-47 sunk by CL Tenryu at 3,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards PT-43 sunk by CL Kiso at 4,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT-40 at 5,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages PT-40 at 5,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards DD Hibiki engages PT-37 at 2,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages PT-38 at 2,000 yards Lange O. orders Allied TF to disengage Range increases to 3,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-46 at 3,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-39 at 3,000 yards PT-37 sunk by DD Akatsuki at 3,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards PT-46 sunk by CL Kiso at 4,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT-40 at 6,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages PT-39 at 6,000 yards Task forces break off... At leat one of our mines did something to this intrepid IJN commander. Under broad daylight under the nose of 80 land based SBDs, 180 carrier SBDs, 80 TBs and 80 B-26s VADM Inoue sailed over to Tulagi to pursue the USN PTs and engage our vastly superior amphibious TF while it unloaded troops on the beach: Day Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 19,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Kiso CL Tenryu DD Akatsuki DD Hibiki Allied Ships PT-34 PT-35 PT-36 PT-48 PT-59 PT-60 PT-61 PT Q-112 Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards Inoue, Yasuo crosses the 'T' CL Kiso engages PT Q-112 at 19,000 yards Range closes to 18,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT Q-112 at 18,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT-60 at 18,000 yards Valdes W. orders Allied TF to disengage Range increases to 19,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT Q-112 at 19,000 yards DD Hibiki engages PT Q-112 at 19,000 yards Range increases to 20,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT Q-112 at 20,000 yards DD Hibiki engages PT Q-112 at 20,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-48 at 20,000 yards Range increases to 21,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT Q-112 at 21,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT Q-112 at 21,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-59 at 21,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-48 at 21,000 yards Valdes W. orders Allied TF to disengage CL Tenryu engages PT Q-112 at 21,000 yards CL Kiso engages PT Q-112 at 21,000 yards CL Tenryu engages PT-34 at 21,000 yards Task forces break off... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 18,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Kiso, Shell hits 1 CL Tenryu DD Akatsuki DD Hibiki Allied Ships CA Vincennes, Shell hits 4 CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1 APD Fox APD Waters APD Lawrence DMS Boggs DMS Lamberton DMS Perry AP Henry T. Allen AP George F. Elliot, Shell hits 2, on fire AP President Hayes AP Thomas Jefferson, Shell hits 5, on fire AK Fomalhaut AK Alhena AK Algorab AK Arcturus Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching! Allied TF begins to get underway Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards Range closes to 18,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 18,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 18,000 yards CL Kiso engages CA Vincennes at 18,000 yards CL Kiso engages CA Vincennes at 18,000 yards CL Kiso engages DMS Perry at 18,000 yards Range closes to 14,000 yards CL Tenryu engages CA Vincennes at 14,000 yards CL Kiso engages CL Mauritius at 14,000 yards DD Hibiki engages CA Vincennes at 14,000 yards CL Kiso engages AK Alhena at 14,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards CL Kiso engages CL Mauritius at 11,000 yards CL Kiso engages DMS Perry at 11,000 yards CA Vincennes engages DD Akatsuki at 11,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards CL Kiso engages CL Mauritius at 9,000 yards DD Hibiki engages CA Vincennes at 9,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages AP George F. Elliot at 9,000 yards Inoue, Yasuo orders Japanese TF to disengage Range closes to 8,000 yards CL Kiso engages CA Vincennes at 8,000 yards CA Vincennes engages CL Kiso at 8,000 yards DD Hibiki engages CA Vincennes at 8,000 yards CL Kiso engages DMS Lamberton at 8,000 yards DD Hibiki engages AP Thomas Jefferson at 8,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards CL Kiso engages CA Vincennes at 13,000 yards CL Kiso engages DMS Perry at 13,000 yards CA Vincennes engages DD Akatsuki at 13,000 yards CL Kiso engages DMS Boggs at 13,000 yards CL Kiso engages APD Lawrence at 13,000 yards CL Tenryu engages APD Waters at 13,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages AP Thomas Jefferson at 13,000 yards DD Akatsuki engages AP President Hayes at 13,000 yards Range increases to 20,000 yards AP Thomas Jefferson , AP President Hayes , AP George F. Elliot , AP Henry T. Allen , AK Arcturus , AK Algorab , AK Alhena , AK Fomalhaut screened from combat CL Kiso engages CA Vincennes at 20,000 yards CA Vincennes engages DD Hibiki at 20,000 yards CA Vincennes engages DD Akatsuki at 20,000 yards CL Kiso engages DMS Boggs at 20,000 yards Range increases to 27,000 yards AP Thomas Jefferson , AP President Hayes , AP George F. Elliot screened from combat Task forces break off... Evidently they escaped to the north unscathed......how much ammo do IJN ships carry? Anyway.....Ive never seen a performance like this with the exception of ADM Tanaka. BATTLE OF THE CORAL....CONTINUED As the amphibious TF continued to land troops at Tulagi it was spotted by the Japanese carriers and was soon under aerial attack: Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 50 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 72 B5M1 Mabel x 3 B5N2 Kate x 13 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 4 Martlet II x 7 Kittyhawk IA x 6 P-39D Airacobra x 33 P-40E Warhawk x 3 F4F-3 Wildcat x 8 F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 18 destroyed B5M1 Mabel: 1 damaged B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Martlet II: 1 destroyed Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CL Mauritius DD Mahan DD Drayton Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes 49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 28th CG/11th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes 8th FG/35th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes 8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead No.800 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Raid is overhead No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 37 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 54 B5M1 Mabel x 6 B5N2 Kate x 26 Allied aircraft Sea Hurricane Ib x 2 Martlet II x 2 Kittyhawk IA x 4 P-39D Airacobra x 21 F4F-3 Wildcat x 11 F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CL Mauritius, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires DD Drayton Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 3000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes 28th CG/11th FS with P-39D Airacobra (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 8th FG/35th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Mauritius Estimated time to target is 28 minutes The Japanese carrier raids were mostly fought off by the Cactus air force with a help from the Allied carriers. The damage suffered by the amphib TF was actually helpful to the Allies......the amphib TF dropped its moorings and began sailing back towards Luganville and should be out of harm's way by daylight of next turn. SS Grayback was able to approach CV Akagi during the airstikes and almost got lucky: Sub attack near Treasury Islands at 108,133 Japanese Ships CV Akagi CA Furutaka CA Suzuya CL Kitakami DD Kisaragi DD Yomogi DD Nagatsuki DD Fumizuki DD Minazuki Allied Ships SS Grayback SS Grayback launches 4 torpedoes at CV Akagi DD Yomogi fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub and abandons search DD Fumizuki attacking submerged sub .... DD Minazuki attacking submerged sub .... DD Yomogi fails to find sub and abandons search DD Fumizuki fails to find sub and abandons search DD Minazuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Minazuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Minazuki attacking submerged sub .... DD Minazuki loses contact with SS Grayback DD Minazuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Minazuki attacking submerged sub .... SS Grayback eludes DD Minazuki by diving deep SS Grayback eludes DD Minazuki by diving deep DD Minazuki cannot reach attack position over SS Grayback DD Minazuki cannot reach attack position over SS Grayback Escort abandons search for sub Interesting aerial combat this turn. The poor weather grounded virtually all of my DBs and TBs. Japan's carriers sortied but flew limited strikes and again suffered horrific fighter losses. Japan loses 76 AC to 35 Allied AC. In A2A combat.....Japan loses 56 AC to 20 Allied AC. Looking at individual plane losses.... I know that there is FoW but the results are ridiculous....the info screen show that Japan lost 85 A6M2s this turn.....77 A6M2s in A2A combat. Allies losses in A2A include 12 P-39Ds and 2 P-40Es. Overall.....Japan has now lost 2550 AC vs Allied losses of 2170 AC. I have attached a sreenshot of the positions of the Japanese and Allied carriers at the end of day 5 of the Coral Sea battle....and the track shows where the Allied carriers will be positioned next turn. The Allied carriers just refueled this turn and need to keep moving to try to avoid the IJN sub menace. I think that Dave sent VADM Inoue's TF into Lunga this turn to take out the PTs so he could launch a night naval bombardment next turn with his Kongo class BBs to shut down the AF. The IJN surface TFs are in 9 hex range of Lunga if they approach though Ironbottom Sound. Ive positioned the CL Emerald TF both to isolate Tulagi and slow down any approaching bombardment TFs from Ironbottom Sound. Im sending a RN surface TF with 2 "R" class BBs on a night run to Lunga just in case the Japanese show up. The RN surface TF is commanded by the best Adm available in the Royal Navy.....Adm Sommerville. [image]local://upfiles/14495/A8DCFA14536F443BB6B3D37B3DB1F5E9.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (11/6/2011 12:43:26 AM)
5/18-5/19/42.....CONTINUED FORTRESS BATAVIA Dave assaults Batavia for the 3rd turn in a row as the situation in the south Pacific becomes more pressing: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 55182 troops, 671 guns, 478 vehicles, Assault Value = 2362 Defending force 35741 troops, 483 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 826 Japanese adjusted assault: 307 Allied adjusted defense: 1083 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1557 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 95 disabled Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 115 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled Vehicles lost 58 (7 destroyed, 51 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1340 casualties reported Squads: 39 destroyed, 162 disabled Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 153 disabled Engineers: 3 destroyed, 9 disabled Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 18th Division 8th Tank Regiment 1st Engineer Co 33rd Division III/66th Nav Gd /2 21st Division 2nd Division 16th Naval Guard Unit 5th Division 4th Engineer Co 4th Div /7 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: 2nd KNIL Regiment Prajoda Garrison Battalion VII KNIL Battalion Samarinda KNIL Battalion Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion Marinier Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment 1st Regt Cavalerie Roodenburg Battalion Manado Garrison Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment VI KNIL Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion Van Altena Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 4th KNIL Regiment Afdeling Ritman Makassar Garrison Battalion Loemafjang Base Force ABDA MLD 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Batavia Base Force KNIL Army Command 1st KNIL AA Battalion Djojakarta Base Force Banjoewangi Base Force Madion Base Force Soerabaja Base Force ML-KNIL 3rd KNIL AA Battalion Tjilitap Base Force Merak Base Force Bandoeng Base Force Commandement Marine Malang Base Force Supposedly we suffered 1300 Dutch casualties to 1500 Japanese casualties but it looks as if the Dutch have sufferred 200 squads disabled/killed while Japan only suffes 100 squads disabled/killed......this really hurts. Transport subs keep bringing supplies in to Batavia every turn but its not nearly enough. PHILIPPINES Japan launches 2 more attacks at Cayagan: Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 13466 troops, 168 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 511 Defending force 8351 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 202 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 259 Allied adjusted defense: 163 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 410 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 235 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 10 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 62nd Naval Guard Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 10th Garrison Unit 38th Division 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 2nd/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 13201 troops, 168 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 607 Defending force 8140 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 182 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 243 Allied adjusted defense: 269 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 213 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 519 casualties reported Squads: 9 destroyed, 22 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 36 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 38th Division 62nd Naval Guard Unit 10th Garrison Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 11th Garrison Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 2nd/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps We are hanging on in Mindanao by a thread. All quiet over on Luzon as Dave has moved most of his naval bombardment ships to thew south Pacific. We still get the daily aerial bombardments at Clark and Manila. In all the excitement this turn...the first ships of the next wave of blockade runners gets through to Luzon undetected and 6000 supplies are currently being unloaded at Altimonan and Naga. CBI Daves 6000 AV army in northern China unleashes a horrific attack on the undermanned Chinese: Ground combat at 90,40 Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 162421 troops, 1304 guns, 346 vehicles, Assault Value = 6030 Defending force 37477 troops, 237 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1458 Japanese adjusted assault: 3752 Allied adjusted defense: 1567 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 5613 casualties reported Squads: 11 destroyed, 433 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 351 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled Allied ground losses: 17133 casualties reported Squads: 363 destroyed, 583 disabled Non Combat: 420 destroyed, 175 disabled Engineers: 16 destroyed, 29 disabled Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Units retreated 14 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 59th Division 8th Engineer Regiment 18th RGC Temp. Division 2nd NCPC Infantry Brigade 2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade 11th RGC Ind. Brigade 1st Cavalry Brigade 34th Division 3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade 8th Ind.Mixed Brigade 102nd NCPC Route Brigade 24th RGC Temp. Division RGC Capital Brigade 12th RGC Ind. Brigade 41st Division 9th Ind.Mixed Brigade 37th Division 68th Division 15th Division 116th Division 12th Indpt Infantry Regiment 2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment RGC Tax Police Regiment 110th Division 11th Indpt Infantry Regiment 22nd Division 35th Division 3rd NCPC Infantry Brigade 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 33rd Chinese Corps 120th Red Chinese Division 129th Red Chinese Division 40th Chinese Corps 42nd Chinese Corps 4th Chinese Cavalry/ Corps 4th Chinese Cavalry/ Corps 89th Chinese Corps 19th Chinese Corps 23rd Chinese Corps 4th Chinese Cavalry/ Corps 6th Group Army 2nd War Area 7th Group Army Japan gets 2:1 odds on the first attack and blows through the main Chinese army in the north. What had been a 1450 AV army in 3x terrain is now barely 700 AV of dirupted/demoralized rabble. Even worse....instead of retreating the Chinese army along the main highway towards Sian....the Chinese are retreated down the Forest Gump secondary road towards Yenan. Japan has blown a hole in the Chinese line that the 5th Guards Tank Army could drive through.....or even Arnold's Hummer. I can get 3000 to 4000 AV to Sian before Japan...but Dave could easily exit the rough terrain and catch me on clear terrain if he now cooses too. But wait! Get out your magnifying glasses and look at the 6000 AV IJA stack in the mountains just W of Taiyuan. They arent heading down the main highway towards Sian!. This after Ive gotten sigint every other turn than the Chinese Expeditionary Army is planning for Sian for the lat 4 months. Instead...it appears as if Dave is moving part of his army NW towards the secondary road to Yenan. Maybe Dave would rather annihilate the remains of the defeated Chinese army rather than capture Sian. It also appears that a portion of the 6000 AV stack is heading E back to the railhead at Taiyuan. Ive got Chinese armies on the move towards Kaifeng, Hangchow and even Nanking along with a move towards the coast against Amoy and a half dozen other coastal cities. If I cant stop the main Japanese stack in the north the only thing I can do is attack all along the front wherever I can. In Burma....the Japanese troops are still hunkered down at Katha. Meanwhile...nearly 2000 Indian.Brit/US AV will cross the Irrawaddy next turn and threaten the rear of the Japanese. I dont think taht Dave has seen them yet. 18th UK Division has nearly completed unloading at Karachi following redeployment from Australia. Next turn it will use strategic movement to Dimapur and then Imphal and jpoin the other Allied forces in Burma. [image]local://upfiles/14495/5AF0046A160D449CA1EDD231E699847E.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA..........DAYS 6 & 7 (11/6/2011 8:50:13 PM)
5/20-5/21/42 BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA.....DAYS 6 & 7 Well we had another shift in momentum over the last 48 hours. Here is how 5/20/42 started: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 20, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kirakira at 115,140 Japanese Ships SS RO-65 Allied Ships CL Emerald DD Panther SS RO-65 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Emerald DD Panther fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Panther fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Panther fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Panther fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Panther fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kirakira at 114,141 Japanese Ships SS I-8 Allied Ships DD Drayton SS I-8 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Drayton I-8 diving deep .... DD Drayton fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Drayton fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Drayton fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Drayton fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Drayton fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Luganville at 120,150 Japanese Ships SSX Ha-3 Allied Ships DD Vampire SSX Ha-3 is located by DD Vampire Ha-3 bottoming out .... DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Adm Somerville's surface TF with 2 R class BBs attempted to sail to Lunga to defend against naval bombardments but didnt make it too far before they were spotted by a sub: Sub attack near Lunga at 114,139 Japanese Ships SS I-166 Allied Ships BB Revenge, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage CA Canberra DD Henley DD Stuart DD Bulmer SS I-166 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Revenge I-166 diving deep .... DD Stuart fails to find sub and abandons search DD Bulmer fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Bulmer fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Bulmer fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Bulmer fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Bulmer fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub BB Revenge was detached wirh DD Stuart as an escort to head back to Luganville but didnt make it very far before they ran into another sub: Sub attack near Lunga at 114,139 Japanese Ships SS I-171 Allied Ships BB Revenge, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage DD Stuart SS I-171 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Revenge DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Scratch one BB. At least DD Stuart achieved a small measure of revenge: Sub attack near Kirakira at 114,141 Japanese Ships SS I-8, hits 5 Allied Ships DD Stuart SS I-8 launches 2 torpedoes DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .... DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .... DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .... DD Stuart loses contact with SS I-8 SS I-8 eludes ASW attack from DD Stuart DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub This wasnt due to lack of trying on my part to provide ASW ship and AC coverage: Sub attack near Kirakira at 114,141 Japanese Ships SS I-8, hits 5 Allied Ships DD Stuart SS I-8 launches 2 torpedoes DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .... DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .... DD Stuart attacking submerged sub .... DD Stuart loses contact with SS I-8 SS I-8 eludes ASW attack from DD Stuart DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 120, 150 near Luganville Walrus II reports periscope at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 117, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull from VCS-4/3 attacking a Japanese SS at 116,140 a Type B1/B2 class SS is reported HIT SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 117, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 115, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 116, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports object near surface at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 115, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports shadow in water at 115, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 115, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports diving submarine at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports object under water at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 117, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports object under water at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 115, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 117, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports object under water at 94, 133 near Cooktown PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope at 117, 142 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope wake at 117, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope at 114, 139 near Lunga C.XI-W reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports possible submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports object near surface at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports conning tower at 120, 150 near Luganville Seagull V reports radio transmissions at 117, 142 near Kirakira DB-7B reports suspected submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports suspected submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports submarine wake at 118, 147 near Torres Islands DB-7B from No.22 Sqn RAAF attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 DB-7B reports conning tower at 118, 147 near Torres Islands DB-7B reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports conning tower at 118, 147 near Torres Islands DB-7B reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports conning tower at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports oil slick at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports suspected submarine at 123, 149 near Aoba Island B-26 Marauder reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville B-18A Bolo reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville B-18A Bolo reports object under water at 120, 150 near Luganville A-20A Havoc reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports diving submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports turbulence in water at 123, 149 near Aoba Island TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports oil slick at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports diving submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville Walrus II reports radio transmissions at 116, 140 near Kirakira Walrus II reports submarine at 116, 138 near Stewart Island Walrus II reports periscope wake at 116, 140 near Kirakira Walrus II reports possible submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 116, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 120, 150 near Luganville OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 116, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher from VCS-9/2 attacking a Type KD6B class SS at 117,142 OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 115, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 115, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object near surface at 115, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 115, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 116, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 116, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine wake at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 118, 147 near Torres Islands SOC-1 Seagull reports shadow in water at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SBC-4 Helldiver reports object under water at 120, 150 near Luganville SBC-4 Helldiver reports submarine at 118, 147 near Torres Islands PBY-5 Catalina reports suspected submarine at 117, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope at 115, 140 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports submarine at 117, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope wake at 116, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports shape below surface at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports oil slick at 119, 140 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports shadow in water at 117, 142 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports shadow in water at 116, 140 near Kirakira C.XI-W reports object under water at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) from No.1 Sqn RNZAF attacking a Type J1 class SS at 123,149 a Japanese SS is reported HIT Hudson III (LR) reports suspected submarine at 123, 149 near Aoba Island Hudson III (LR) reports periscope at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports suspected submarine at 118, 147 near Torres Islands Hudson III (LR) reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports periscope wake at 118, 147 near Torres Islands Hudson III (LR) reports shadow in water at 123, 149 near Aoba Island Hudson III (LR) reports oil slick at 118, 147 near Torres Islands Hudson III (LR) from No.1 Sqn RNZAF attacking a Japanese SS at 123,149 a Type A1 class SS is reported HIT Hudson III (LR) reports object near surface at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports shape below surface at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports possible submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B from No.22 Sqn RAAF attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 SSX Ha-3 is reported HIT B-26 Marauder reports suspected submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports submarine wake at 118, 147 near Torres Islands B-26 Marauder reports conning tower at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports shape below surface at 118, 147 near Torres Islands B-26 Marauder reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports shadow in water at 118, 147 near Torres Islands B-26 Marauder reports shape below surface at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports object under water at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports diving submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator from VT-2 attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 TBD-1 Devastator reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports diving submarine at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports conning tower at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Japanese SS at 120,149 a Type KD5 class SS is reported HIT TBD-1 Devastator reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 TBD-1 Devastator reports suspected submarine at 120, 148 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports possible submarine at 120, 148 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports oil slick at 120, 148 near Santa Maria OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 120, 149 near Santa Maria OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shape below surface at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 114, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 119, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull from VCS-4/3 attacking a Japanese SS at 117,142 a Type C1 class SS is reported HIT SOC-1 Seagull reports object near surface at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports radio transmissions at 114, 139 near Lunga SOC-1 Seagull reports object under water at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports object under water at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports radio transmissions at 116, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 117, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 117, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 120, 150 near Luganville SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 117, 138 near Stewart Island SBC-4 Helldiver reports conning tower at 120, 149 near Santa Maria SBC-4 Helldiver reports shape below surface at 120, 150 near Luganville SBC-4 Helldiver from VMO-151 attacking a Japanese SS at 120,149 SBC-4 Helldiver reports submarine wake at 120, 148 near Santa Maria PBY-5 Catalina reports periscope at 117, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports oil slick at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports possible submarine at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports conning tower at 114, 141 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports object near surface at 116, 140 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports suspected submarine at 119, 140 near Kirakira C.XI-W reports possible submarine at 120, 149 near Santa Maria C.XI-W reports turbulence in water at 120, 150 near Luganville C.XI-W reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville C.XI-W reports submarine wake at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports submarine wake at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports submarine wake at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports oil slick at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports radio transmissions at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) from No.1 Sqn RNZAF attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 Hudson III (LR) reports radio transmissions at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports submarine at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports object under water at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports periscope at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports conning tower at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Seagull V reports possible submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira Seagull V reports turbulence in water at 115, 140 near Kirakira Seagull V reports possible submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira DB-7B reports periscope wake at 120, 149 near Santa Maria DB-7B reports radio transmissions at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports radio transmissions at 120, 148 near Santa Maria DB-7B reports object under water at 120, 150 near Luganville DB-7B reports object near surface at 120, 148 near Santa Maria B-26 Marauder reports periscope wake at 120, 149 near Santa Maria B-26 Marauder reports shadow in water at 120, 149 near Santa Maria B-26 Marauder reports submarine wake at 120, 149 near Santa Maria B-26 Marauder reports radio transmissions at 120, 150 near Luganville B-18A Bolo reports shadow in water at 120, 150 near Luganville A-20A Havoc reports shadow in water at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports possible submarine at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine wake at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports periscope at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Japanese SS at 120,149 TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports shape below surface at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Type KD4 class SS at 120,149 a Type J3 class SS is reported HIT TBD-1 Devastator reports radio transmissions at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator reports object under water at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville TBD-1 Devastator reports periscope wake at 120, 148 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking a Type A1 class SS at 120,149 TBD-1 Devastator reports shadow in water at 120, 149 near Santa Maria TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 attacking SSX Ha-3 at 120,150 TBD-1 Devastator reports turbulence in water at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Walrus II reports submarine wake at 116, 140 near Kirakira Walrus II reports conning tower at 116, 140 near Kirakira Walrus II reports submarine at 117, 138 near Stewart Island Walrus II reports submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira Walrus II reports object under water at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 119, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 116, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 117, 142 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 114, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 114, 139 near Lunga OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher from VCS-4/2 attacking a Type KD7 class SS at 114,141 SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 117, 138 near Stewart Island OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 115, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 114, 141 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope wake at 116, 140 near Kirakira OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine wake at 116, 138 near Stewart Island SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 116, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville SOC-1 Seagull reports object near surface at 117, 142 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports shadow in water at 119, 140 near Kirakira SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 116, 140 near Kirakira SBC-4 Helldiver reports periscope at 120, 148 near Santa Maria SBC-4 Helldiver reports object near surface at 120, 148 near Santa Maria SBC-4 Helldiver reports possible submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville SBC-4 Helldiver from VMO-151 attacking a Type KD6A class SS at 120,149 PBY-5 Catalina reports shadow in water at 115, 140 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports conning tower at 114, 139 near Lunga PBY-5 Catalina reports shadow in water at 117, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports turbulence in water at 117, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports object under water at 116, 138 near Stewart Island PBY-5 Catalina reports suspected submarine at 115, 140 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports turbulence in water at 114, 141 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports submarine at 114, 141 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports radio transmissions at 116, 140 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports object near surface at 115, 140 near Kirakira PBY-5 Catalina reports object near surface at 117, 138 near Stewart Island C.XI-W reports periscope at 120, 148 near Santa Maria C.XI-W reports diving submarine at 120, 149 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports suspected submarine at 120, 149 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports object under water at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports submarine wake at 120, 149 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports diving submarine at 120, 150 near Luganville Hudson III (LR) reports periscope wake at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports radio transmissions at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports possible submarine at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports submarine at 120, 148 near Santa Maria Hudson III (LR) reports submarine wake at 120, 150 near Luganville Seagull V reports conning tower at 116, 140 near Kirakira Seagull V reports turbulence in water at 117, 142 near Kirakira Seagull V reports conning tower at 116, 138 near Stewart Island DB-7B reports conning tower at 120, 148 near Santa Maria DB-7B reports submarine wake at 120, 148 near Santa Maria DB-7B reports object near surface at 120, 149 near Santa Maria DB-7B reports conning tower at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports object near surface at 120, 149 near Santa Maria B-26 Marauder reports conning tower at 120, 148 near Santa Maria B-18A Bolo reports periscope wake at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports shadow in water at 120, 150 near Luganville B-26 Marauder reports periscope at 120, 149 near Santa Maria B-26 Marauder reports conning tower at 120, 149 near Santa Maria AdmSomerville's surface TF came and went at Lunga the first night of the turn....there was no Japanewse nightime naval bombardment. All day on the 20th IJN BBs sailed just off of Guadalcanal but maddeningly only a pittance of the 60 B-26s, 50 land based DBs and 250 carrier bombers attacked them: Morning Air attack on TF, near Buka at 110,128 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft Beaufighter Ic x 5 B-26 Marauder x 3 Allied aircraft losses B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged Japanese Ships BB Kirishima Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 2000 feet * Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 112,136 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 Allied aircraft F2A-3 Buffalo x 14 SBD-2 Dauntless x 12 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F2A-3 Buffalo: 6 destroyed SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged Japanese Ships BB Nagato, Bomb hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 1 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 2 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 31000 Raid is overhead Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 19000 Raid is overhead Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-2 Dauntless x 3 Allied aircraft losses SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged Japanese Ships xAKL Katsura Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb It seems as if the inclement weather has kept my carrier and land based bombers from flying since the Japanese Combined Fleet arrived on the scene a week ago. Dave stood off Lunga at 8 hex range and sent a series of carrier strikes that were easily repelled by the Cactus air force at Lunga: Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 13 B5N2 Kate x 13 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk IA x 7 P-39D Airacobra x 53 P-40E Warhawk x 18 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 7 planes vectored on to bombers 49th FG/8th FS with P-40E Warhawk (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 13 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 5 planes vectored on to bombers 49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 3 planes vectored on to bombers 28th CG/11th FS with P-39D Airacobra (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 8 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/35th FS with P-39D Airacobra (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 12 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 10 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 10 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 5 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 9 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes 5 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 B5N2 Kate x 18 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk IA x 7 P-39D Airacobra x 35 P-40E Warhawk x 16 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 12 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD Paladin CL Emerald CAP engaged: No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 2 planes vectored on to bombers 49th FG/8th FS with P-40E Warhawk (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 11 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 2 planes vectored on to bombers 49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 28th CG/11th FS with P-39D Airacobra (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 8th FG/35th FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 1 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 10 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 4 planes vectored on to bombers 35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 4 planes vectored on to bombers 8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 5 planes vectored on to bombers Maybe Im thinking of stock WitP but Ive never been able to make a naval bombardment work on the 2nd day of a turn. Usually the bombardment TF just gets confused and stands off the target....this has happened to me several times in the past(as the Allies) that I dont even try it any more. Dave was able to get his naval bombardment TFs to hit me on the 2nd night of the turn....they approached from the south....not from Ironbottom Sound....and the efeect was devastating: Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,139, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro BB Ise DD Hayashio DD Inazuma Allied Ships PC Vigilant, Shell hits 1, and is sunk ACM Sage, Shell hits 12, and is sunk ACM Holly, Shell hits 2, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 11,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards Allied TF attempts to evade combat Range increases to 10,000 yards... Range increases to 11,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards PC Vigilant sunk by BB Yamashiro at 11,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards DD Inazuma engages ACM Sage at 12,000 yards DD Hayashio engages ACM Sage at 12,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards DD Inazuma engages ACM Sage at 10,000 yards DD Inazuma engages ACM Sage at 10,000 yards DD Hayashio engages ACM Sage at 10,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards ACM Holly sunk by BB Yamashiro at 8,000 yards BB Ise engages ACM Sage at 8,000 yards DD Inazuma engages ACM Sage at 8,000 yards DD Hayashio engages ACM Sage at 8,000 yards ACM Sage sunk by BB Ise at 8,000 yards Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 6,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro BB Ise DD Hayashio DD Inazuma Allied Ships PT-34 PT-35 PT-36, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PT-48, Shell hits 9, and is sunk PT-59, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PT-60 PT-61, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PT Q-112, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 6,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards Okuma, Masakichi crosses the 'T' PT Q-112 sunk by BB Ise at 6,000 yards PT-61 engages DD Hayashio at 6,000 yards DD Hayashio engages PT-36 at 6,000 yards BB Ise engages PT-34 at 6,000 yards Range closes to 4,000 yards PT-48 collides with PT-59 at 114 , 138 BB Ise engages PT-61 at 4,000 yards BB Ise engages PT-60 at 4,000 yards DD Inazuma engages PT-61 at 4,000 yards DD Hayashio engages PT-61 at 4,000 yards BB Ise engages PT-36 at 4,000 yards DD Inazuma engages PT-61 at 4,000 yards BB Ise engages PT-35 at 4,000 yards Valdes W. orders Allied TF to disengage Range closes to 2,000 yards BB Ise engages PT-61 at 2,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages PT-36 at 2,000 yards PT-59 sunk by BB Ise at 2,000 yards PT-61 sunk by BB Ise at 2,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages PT-60 at 2,000 yards PT-48 sunk by DD Inazuma at 2,000 yards BB Ise engages PT-35 at 2,000 yards Range increases to 4,000 yards BB Ise engages PT-60 at 4,000 yards PT-36 sunk by DD Inazuma at 4,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages PT-60 at 9,000 yards DD Hayashio engages PT-60 at 9,000 yards Task forces break off... Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed on ground B-26 Marauder: 10 destroyed on ground Kittyhawk IA: 4 destroyed on ground P-39D Airacobra: 13 destroyed on ground Beaufighter Ic: 3 destroyed on ground F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Ise BB Yamashiro DD Inazuma DD Hayashio Allied ground losses: 227 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 31 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled Vehicles lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled) Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 92 E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Ise BB Ise firing at Lunga BB Yamashiro firing at Lunga DD Inazuma firing at Lunga DD Hayashio firing at Lunga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed on ground B-26 Marauder: 6 destroyed on ground P-39D Airacobra: 6 destroyed on ground Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed on ground SBD-2 Dauntless: 3 destroyed on ground Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed on ground A-24 Banshee: 2 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Nagato DD Tsuta Allied ground losses: 203 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 7 destroyed, 8 disabled Vehicles lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled) Airbase hits 8 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 52 BB Nagato firing at Lunga DD Tsuta firing at Lunga On the way out the IJN bombardment TF roughly handles our blocking force at Tulagi: Day Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 16,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses No Allied losses Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2 BB Ise, Shell hits 3 DD Hayashio DD Inazuma Allied Ships CL Emerald, Shell hits 10, and is sunk DD Paladin DD Panther Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards Range closes to 18,000 yards... Range closes to 16,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 16,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 16,000 yards Bettington, H.B. crosses the 'T' BB Ise engages CL Emerald at 16,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages CL Emerald at 16,000 yards DD Inazuma engages CL Emerald at 16,000 yards DD Hayashio engages CL Emerald at 16,000 yards Range closes to 14,000 yards BB Ise engages CL Emerald at 14,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages CL Emerald at 14,000 yards DD Paladin engages DD Hayashio at 14,000 yards DD Hayashio engages CL Emerald at 14,000 yards Range closes to 12,000 yards BB Ise engages CL Emerald at 12,000 yards BB Ise engages DD Panther at 12,000 yards DD Inazuma engages DD Panther at 12,000 yards DD Panther engages DD Hayashio at 12,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards CL Emerald engages BB Ise at 10,000 yards DD Panther engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards DD Panther engages DD Inazuma at 10,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD Paladin at 10,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards CL Emerald engages DD Hayashio at 7,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages CL Emerald at 7,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD Paladin at 7,000 yards DD Panther engages DD Hayashio at 7,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages CL Emerald at 11,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages DD Panther at 11,000 yards DD Inazuma engages DD Paladin at 11,000 yards DD Paladin engages DD Hayashio at 11,000 yards Range increases to 15,000 yards CL Emerald sunk by BB Yamashiro at 15,000 yards DD Inazuma engages DD Paladin at 15,000 yards DD Panther engages DD Hayashio at 15,000 yards Range increases to 18,000 yards BB Ise engages DD Panther at 18,000 yards DD Inazuma engages DD Paladin at 18,000 yards Range increases to 21,000 yards BB Ise engages DD Panther at 21,000 yards Range increases to 22,000 yards Range closes to 21,000 yards BB Ise engages DD Paladin at 21,000 yards Range increases to 29,000 yards Task forces break off... 95 Allied AC are destroyed on the ground. Worse...the Lunga AF has both runway and service damage over 70%. The Japanese carrier strikes resumed the next day and Cactus air force was put out of action: Morning Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 113,137 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 22 D3A1 Val x 13 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Paladin, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires DD Panther Aircraft Attacking: 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Paladin The Allied shock attack to capture Tulagi was close but no cigar: Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 5697 troops, 146 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 169 Defending force 1815 troops, 21 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 42 Allied adjusted assault: 205 Japanese adjusted defense: 79 Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3) Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 159 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Allied ground losses: 59 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled) Assaulting units: 182nd Infantry Regiment 108th Infantry Regiment Defending units: 1st Ind. Engineer Regiment 7th Base Force /1 Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 5656 troops, 146 guns, 187 vehicles, Assault Value = 168 Defending force 1699 troops, 21 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 39 Allied adjusted assault: 66 Japanese adjusted defense: 58 Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 223 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled Allied ground losses: 64 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) Assaulting units: 182nd Infantry Regiment 108th Infantry Regiment Defending units: 1st Ind. Engineer Regiment 7th Base Force /1 USMC paratroops on Russel Is. continued to mop up Japanese stragglers: Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 475 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 192 Defending force 505 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17 Allied adjusted assault: 12 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 12 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-) supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 22 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 2nd Marine Raider Battalion 161st Infantry Regiment 2nd USMC Parachute Battalion Defending units: Maizuru 1st SNLF /1 Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 475 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 194 Defending force 478 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14 Allied adjusted assault: 13 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-) supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 31 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 161st Infantry Regiment 2nd Marine Raider Battalion 2nd USMC Parachute Battalion I will add one of the infantry regiments to the attack next turn now that it has rested a bit. On Guadalcanal...the 2 USMC raiders reach Tassafaronga this turn and an attack will be ordered when the tank battalion arrives next turn. Ive attached a screenshot of the current situation in the Solomons/Coral Sea. Unfortunately the Cactus air force squadrons took on plane replacements after they were bombarded so now out of 238 AC at Lunga 140 are not operational. I really srewed up here. In retrospect I would have been better off to have parked all my BBs and surface TFs at Lunga under a 200 fighter CAP and just dared Dave to attack. Now.....Lunga is shut down. The Cactus air force destroyed 18 more A6M2s(about 10 were carrier fighters) and 44 Kates this turn. With Dave losing 70-90 A6M2s and 44 Kates over the last 2 turns I was tempted to take on 7 CVs/2 CVLs/2 CVEs with 4 USN CVs/3 RN CVs/1 RN CVL but the numbers just dont make sense. If I try to put the Allied BBs at Lunga next turn to prevent further bombardments and try to repair the AF I have to engage KB and all its friends. Dave apparently loaded up his CVs/CVLs/CVEs with extra Kates at the expense of fighters...he wants to make sure he destroys whatever he engages. With 350 Japanese carrier bombers vs 250 Allied carrier bombers.....many of them obsolescent TBDs and British biplane TBs....there is no way I can rationalize exposing the Allied carriers to a defeat in detail. Beyond the carrier menace...the number and position of the IJN subs makes manuever or even reinforcement of Lunga nearly impossible. Reluctantly....Ive decided to withdraw the Allied carriers back to the New Hebrides. The Battle of the Coral Sea is now over....and it was a clear cut Japanese victory. The Allied troops on the ground at Russell Is. and Guadalcanal are secure for now. With over 7000 supplies on Russell Is. and 20,000 supplies on Guadalcanal the ground troops should be able to eliminate the remaining Japanese defenders and then dig in against the inevitable Japanese offensive. Unfortuantely at Tulagi...Dave was able to fly in another 1000 troops after he put Cactus AF out of action and now can reinforce at his leisure while the US Army troops there are low on supplies...the 2 regiments on Tulagi are basically toast. I need a few days to complete temporary repairs on CV Lex....and then conduct sea trials to see if the patch over the torpedo damage will hold. CV Wasp will traverse the Panama Canal in 14 days and then speed to the south Pacific. I think that Guadalcanal should be able to hold out until late June when hopefully with 6 USV CVs and another 170 AC I have a better chance of taking on the Japanese carriers. I tried to airlift construction engineers into Russell Is. last turn but the PBYs didnt fly. I need to get the level 1 AF on Russell Is. up and running as well as build an AF at Tassafaronga. I converted the first TBD squadron to Avengers this turn. Most of the Allied capital ships have 6-10% sys damage from all the manuvering so it would be good to do some maintenance and upgrade the fighters and TBs before seeking battle with KB again. As for the Cactus AF....I pulled out all the operational AC this turn and will try to extricate as many of the damaged AC as possible. [image]local://upfiles/14495/596F238BBA7A4BD5A31DF92BD344C40A.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (11/6/2011 9:11:38 PM)
5/20-5/21/42....CONTINUED FORTRESS BATAVIA Japan merely launches aerial and ground bombardments at Batavia this turn. Im sure a major assault will be launched next turn. The longer Batavia can hold the better my chances of hanging on to Guadalcanal in the south Pacific. PHILIPPINES Two more assaults are launched at Cayagan....our disabled squads are starting to die off: Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 18006 troops, 200 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 605 Defending force 7782 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 153 Japanese adjusted assault: 292 Allied adjusted defense: 161 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 661 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 53 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 392 casualties reported Squads: 13 destroyed, 20 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 45 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Assaulting units: 11th Garrison Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 10th Garrison Unit 38th Division 62nd Naval Guard Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 2nd/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 17580 troops, 200 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 569 Defending force 7397 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 131 Japanese adjusted assault: 134 Allied adjusted defense: 261 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 303 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 876 casualties reported Squads: 25 destroyed, 31 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 30 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 62nd Naval Guard Unit 10th Garrison Unit 38th Division 88th Naval Guard Unit 11th Garrison Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 2nd/101st PA Battalion 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps CBI Dave's 6000 AV army in northern China continues to avoid the main highway towards Sian. His units are either moving NW towards Yenan or back E toward the railhead. Chinese troops threaten half a dozen coastal cities in south central China and another RGC division is mauled as Chinese troops overrun a roadblock outside of Nanking: Ground combat at Wuhu (89,53) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 46644 troops, 339 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1981 Defending force 1156 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53 Allied adjusted assault: 1247 Japanese adjusted defense: 11 Allied assault odds: 113 to 1 (fort level 2) Allied forces CAPTURE Wuhu !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 803 casualties reported Squads: 14 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 30 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Allied ground losses: 182 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 72nd Chinese/A Corps 78th Chinese/A Corps 9th Prov Chinese/C Corps 9th Prov Chinese/A Corps 78th Chinese/B Corps 87th Chinese/A Corps 95th Chinese/A Corps 72nd Chinese/B Corps 72nd Chinese/C Corps 9th Prov Chinese/B Corps 95th Chinese/C Corps 26th Chinese/A Corps 32nd Chinese/B Corps 32nd Chinese/C Corps 87th Chinese/B Corps 26th Chinese/B Corps 26th Chinese/C Corps 95th Chinese/B Corps 78th Chinese/C Corps 53rd Chinese/C Corps 27th Group Army 30th Group Army Defending units: 22nd RGC Temp. Division Recon show 5 LCUs in Nanking...Im sure the railroads are busy bringing in reinforcements here. [image]local://upfiles/14495/EE04055BF0944398818AC3D56FEAABB8.jpg[/image]

Wirraway_Ace -> RE: BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA..........DAYS 6 & 7 (11/6/2011 9:20:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance AdmSomerville's surface TF came and went at Lunga the first night of the turn....there was no Japanewse nightime naval bombardment. All day on the 20th IJN BBs sailed just off of Guadalcanal but maddeningly only a pittance of the 60 B-26s, 50 land based DBs and 250 carrier bombers attacked them: Overstacking penalties compounding the normal randoms that affect the number of bombers that will fly I suspect quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance Maybe Im thinking of stock WitP but Ive never been able to make a naval bombardment work on the 2nd day of a turn. Usually the bombardment TF just gets confused and stands off the target....this has happened to me several times in the past(as the Allies) that I dont even try it any more. Dave was able to get his naval bombardment TFs to hit me on the 2nd night of the turn....they approached from the south....not from Ironbottom Sound....and the efeect was devastating: For what it is worth (anecdotel evidence), I play most of my games 2-day turns and increasingly often as Japan and my TFs (surface combat or bombardment) with retire orders almost always go in the night of 2nd turn although I have attempted to position them within their sprint radius in order to get them in the first night. quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance The Cactus air force destroyed 18 more A6M2s(about 10 were carrier fighters) and 44 Kates this turn. With Dave losing 70-90 A6M2s and 44 Kates over the last 2 turns I was tempted to take on 7 CVs/2 CVLs/2 CVEs with 4 USN CVs/3 RN CVs/1 RN CVL but the numbers just dont make sense. If I try to put the Allied BBs at Lunga next turn to prevent further bombardments and try to repair the AF I have to engage KB and all its friends. Dave apparently loaded up his CVs/CVLs/CVEs with extra Kates at the expense of fighters...he wants to make sure he destroys whatever he engages. With 350 Japanese carrier bombers vs 250 Allied carrier bombers.....many of them obsolescent TBDs and British biplane TBs....there is no way I can rationalize exposing the Allied carriers to a defeat in detail. Beyond the carrier menace...the number and position of the IJN subs makes manuever or even reinforcement of Lunga nearly impossible. This makes the KB a one shot weapon because of the limited number of torpedo sortes. Most of the CV and CVL kate datais are originally sized to allow two full torpedo sortes. quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance Reluctantly....Ive decided to withdraw the Allied carriers back to the New Hebrides. The Battle of the Coral Sea is now over....and it was a clear cut Japanese victory. I always felt that this operation had a key secondary benefit of taking Dave's eye off the growing cancer in the Philippines. As long as your 2nd wave of blockade runners did not run into his forces redeploying to the Solomons, he seemed likely to underestimate a very real threat right under his nose.

racndoc -> OPERATION WATCHTOWER (11/8/2011 11:17:46 PM)
Wirrayway_Ace.....I dont think that stacking issues affected my land based and certainly my carrier based SBDs last turn.....Ive been pretty out of synch with Dave's version of the game the last couple of turns and in my version quite a few more DBs flew......the PT boats also made a few hits with their torpedoes...... but Dave has the host version of the game so his version is the one that counts. 5/22-5/23/42 OPERATION WATCHTOWER Well even though I decided to withdraw the Allied carriers from the southern Solomons last turn this turn started out nearly like the last one did: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 22, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Kirakira at 117,141 Japanese Ships SS I-19 Allied Ships BB Mississippi BB New Mexico CL Boise DD Maury DD Aylwin DD Clark DD Smith DD Conyngham SS I-19 is sighted by escort DD Aylwin fails to find sub and abandons search DD Clark fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Smith fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Conyngham fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Clark fails to find sub and abandons search DD Smith fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Conyngham attacking submerged sub .... SS I-19 eludes DD Conyngham by diving deep DD Smith fails to find sub and abandons search DD Conyngham fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Conyngham fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Conyngham attacking submerged sub .... DD Conyngham cannot establish contact with SS I-19 SS I-19 eludes DD Conyngham by diving deep SS I-19 eludes DD Conyngham by diving deep DD Conyngham attacking submerged sub .... DD Conyngham fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Kirakira at 118,142 Japanese Ships SS I-28, hits 1 Allied Ships DD Stronghold CLAA Van Heemskerck DD Norman SS I-28 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Stronghold I-28 diving deep .... DD Norman attacking submerged sub .... SS I-28 eludes ASW attack from DD Norman DD Norman fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Norman fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Norman fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Norman fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near Lunga at 114,139 Japanese Ships SS I-171 Allied Ships DD Paladin DD Paladin is sighted by SS I-171 SS I-171 launches 2 torpedoes Sub attack near Santa Maria at 120,149 Japanese Ships SS I-123, hits 4 Allied Ships APD Colhoun APD Manley DD Edsall APD Gregory SS I-123 launches 2 torpedoes at APD Colhoun DD Edsall attacking submerged sub .... DD Edsall cannot reach attack position over SS I-123 APD Gregory fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Edsall attacking submerged sub .... SS I-123 eludes DD Edsall by hugging bottom DD Edsall loses contact with SS I-123 APD Gregory fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Edsall fails to find sub, continues to search... APD Gregory fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Edsall fails to find sub, continues to search... APD Gregory fails to find sub and abandons search DD Edsall fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub The sea around Guadalcanal is saturated with IJN subs......this Japanese sub menace confirms my decision to wothdraw regardless ofd the odds of winning a carrier battle. I will admit that since I saw almost no IJN subs in the Allied convoy lanes in the first 6 months of the war I had been a bit lax about ASW training. I have one RNZAF Hudson IIIa squadron and 1 TBF squadron that could be considered expert at ASW....ie over 70 skill level. Im assembing an expert RAAF Hudson IIIa ASW unit and putting sevceral TBF and USAAF units on a crash course in ASW training. The Allied carriers and surface TFs complete their withdrawal to the New Hebrides and next turn will retire towards Noumea.....if I can get a bit of a break from Japan I hope to complete some badly needed maintenance on the Allied capital ships used in OPERATION WATCHTOWER so far. Ive set up a pretty intricate ASW defense throughout the New Hebrides/New Caledonia region with several ASW TFs and lots of overlapping naval search and ASW search. US troops mop up the remaining Japanese stragglers on Russell Is.: Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 3080 troops, 64 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 201 Defending force 473 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14 Allied adjusted assault: 41 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 41 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-) supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 315 casualties reported Squads: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 161st Infantry Regiment 2nd Marine Raider Battalion 2nd USMC Parachute Battalion Defending units: Maizuru 1st SNLF /1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Russell Islands by attrition!!! I still wasnt able to airlift engineers into Russell Is. with PBYs even though I control the island there is also an AF there. Fortunately.....some of the engineers embedded in my combat troops there have reduced the damage from 80% to 50%. IJN BBs bombard both Lunga and Tulagi: I only lost a handful of AC in the bombardment but the AF damage is still over 70%. On Guadalcanal.....the US tank battalion should reach Tassafaronga next turn and we will begin mop up operations there. On Tulagi.....Dave air trnasported another 1000 troops and now has 4500 troops there. The 2 USA regiments regained morale and sed disruption last turn so we will use PBYs to fly in supplies this turn while continue to hit the Japanese troops with aerial bombardments. If I can get the supply levels up a bit we will order an all out shock attack in 2 turns. I spotted several ships in port at both Tulagi and Shortlands.....thinking that Dave had AE/AKEs in those ports to replenish his bombardment TFs I hit both with Liberators and B-17Ds.....ended up sinking SS I-23 and SS I-18 along with some small transports. FORTRESS BATAVIA Another quiet turn with only aerial and ground bombardments. Dave seems to have lost his sense of urgency here after the crisis passed in the south Pacific. PHILIPPINES At Cayagan....we have another 1:1 and then a 1:2 attack.....minor casualties for both sides. Im cancelling this wave of blockade runners for Luzon. After some initial success on the first turn when we unloaded 6000 supplies Dave has sunk 3 of 4 xAKs with a surface TF. I still have over 70,000 supplies stockpiled on Luzon. CBI Dave has apparently split up his 6000 AV army in the north. Eleven of the 30 LCUs have marched E to the railhead at Taiyuan.....about 3000 AV. Im sure these troops will be railed to put out the fires Ive started all over central and coastal China. Meanwhile....19 LCUs representing another 3000 AV head NW to cross the river and attack the retreating Chinese. B-17s based at Chungking hit the IJA stack hard and only 540 IJA AV make it across the river in a disasterous shock attack: Ground combat at 89,39 Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 15243 troops, 131 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 543 Defending force 24652 troops, 236 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 729 Japanese adjusted assault: 77 Allied adjusted defense: 1011 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 13 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 3642 casualties reported Squads: 17 destroyed, 197 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 217 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled Allied ground losses: 1048 casualties reported Squads: 23 destroyed, 38 disabled Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 39 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Assaulting units: 3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade 9th Ind.Mixed Brigade 11th Indpt Infantry Regiment 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 129th Red Chinese Division 42nd Chinese Corps 23rd Chinese Corps 4th Chinese Cavalry/ Corps 40th Chinese Corps 120th Red Chinese Division 89th Chinese Corps 19th Chinese Corps 4th Chinese Cavalry/ Corps 33rd Chinese Corps 4th Chinese Cavalry/ Corps 6th Group Army 2nd War Area 7th Group Army Japan loses some 214 squads......that takesa a bit of the sting out of the severe Chinese defeat 2 turns ago. Now I should be able to get sufficient forces to hold back Japan both on the Yenan secondary road and also the Sian/Taiyuan ,main highway. Chinese troops have invested Foochow and are now moving on Hangchow, Kaifeng and Nanking....so Dave's army at the railyard in taiyuan has a lot of options as to where it could be deployed. The IJA 51 LCU telephone pole at Canton remains inactive. Ive attached a screenshot of Burma. There are 1000 Burma Corps AV that are about to engage some 1000 IJA AV at Katha. Meanwhile.....2000 AV of Indian/British/US troops cut there way through the jungle to envelope the IJA 15th Army from the rear. The RAF and USAAF quietly rest their bombers in India as they wait for the upcoming battle. [image]local://upfiles/14495/13B8A71A078148C3854540DD8C96BA9F.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (11/9/2011 4:48:49 AM)
5/24-5/25/42 OPERATION WATCHTOWER Dave surprised me this turn by paradropping the Yokosuka 1st SNLF on Deboyne Is. I forgot that using paratroops would avoid the excessive disablements that occur in unprepped ampib assaults. The Aussie defenders were in the wrong mode...... enjoying some R & R on a tropical island. However on the next day they were back to fighting and the Japanese paratroops were out of supplies and had a net AV of 2 vs 39 for the Aussie 39th Battalion....the Japanese paratroops suffered heavy casualties in a 1:19 assault. I think that Dave has CVL Ryujo sniffing around here to prevent me from reinforcing but if I can get a decent amount of bombers to hit his paratroops I may shock attack them back next turn. Dave has his level 4 AF at Munda up and running.....despite the fact that Im hitting it with B-17s and getting 35-45 hits on it per day.....there must be an aweful lot of construction engineers there. He staged in 27 Sallys and 20 Oscars to Munda and now they are bombing my USMC raiders at Tassafaronga. Dave sunk a couple of blockade running xAKLs heading to Lunga and he also naval bombarded Russell Is. Using PBYs....I flew in about 100 supplies to the undersupplied 108th Regiment at Tulagi last turn. Next turn the Japanese defenders at Tulagi will get hit by every B-17, Hudson IIIa and B-25c in the theatre and we will launch an all out shock attack. The Allied carriers and surface TFs withdraw to Noumea and take on badly needed fighter and DB replacements.There are IJN subs around Noumea also but not nearly as many as around Guadalcanal or Luganville. An amphibious TF drops off an engineer unit at Aoba Is. next door to Luganville....we will begin construction of a large AF there to support Luganville. FORTRESS BATAVIA Dave was finally able to achieve 1:1 odds at Batavia ands launched a couple of bloody assaults on the Dutch: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 85479 troops, 934 guns, 562 vehicles, Assault Value = 2947 Defending force 33661 troops, 471 guns, 127 vehicles, Assault Value = 716 Japanese adjusted assault: 1364 Allied adjusted defense: 821 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 2012 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 64 disabled Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 92 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled Vehicles lost 34 (4 destroyed, 30 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1524 casualties reported Squads: 110 destroyed, 77 disabled Non Combat: 105 destroyed, 142 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 14 (11 destroyed, 3 disabled) Assaulting units: 1st Engineer Co 16th Naval Guard Unit 33rd Division 21st Division 5th Division 8th Tank Regiment 18th Division 4th Engineer Co 2nd Division 16th Division 4th Div /7 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Marinier Battalion Van Altena Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion Roodenburg Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment 1st Regt Cavalerie VI KNIL Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Prajoda Garrison Battalion VII KNIL Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment Barisan KNIL Regiment Kendari Garrison Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion Manado Garrison Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment Makassar Garrison Battalion MLD Madion Base Force ML-KNIL Bandoeng Base Force ABDA Djojakarta Base Force 3rd KNIL AA Battalion 1st KNIL AA Battalion Loemafjang Base Force Soerabaja Base Force Merak Base Force Batavia Base Force Commandement Marine Tjilitap Base Force 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Banjoewangi Base Force KNIL Army Command Malang Base Force Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 83792 troops, 934 guns, 562 vehicles, Assault Value = 2916 Defending force 30917 troops, 471 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 607 Japanese adjusted assault: 946 Allied adjusted defense: 531 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 891 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 99 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 39 disabled Engineers: 7 destroyed, 15 disabled Allied ground losses: 3324 casualties reported Squads: 41 destroyed, 96 disabled Non Combat: 54 destroyed, 110 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Guns lost 13 (11 destroyed, 2 disabled) Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 5th Division 8th Tank Regiment 16th Naval Guard Unit 21st Division 33rd Division 2nd Division 18th Division 1st Tank Regiment I/81st Naval Guard Unit 16th Division 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy 4th Engineer Co 4th Div /7 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 1st Engineer Co Defending units: Marinier Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 4th KNIL Regiment Mobiele Eenheid Battalion VII KNIL Battalion 1st Regt Cavalerie VI KNIL Battalion Roodenburg Battalion 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion Manado Garrison Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion Van Altena Battalion Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Regiment Prajoda Garrison Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment Makassar Garrison Battalion ML-KNIL 1st KNIL AA Battalion Madion Base Force Batavia Base Force Djojakarta Base Force Loemafjang Base Force Commandement Marine Bandoeng Base Force KNIL Army Command Tjilitap Base Force MLD Soerabaja Base Force Banjoewangi Base Force 1 ML-KNIL Aviation 3rd KNIL AA Battalion ABDA Merak Base Force Malang Base Force I think that the end is near at Batavia....at least the Dutch disabled 200 more Japanese squads. CBI As I had expected.....Dave moved the rest of the split 6000 AV stack....some 3000 AV.....across the river onto the retreating Chinese SW of Yenan. Im pretty sure that I will be able to clear the hex next turn before an attack can be launched and then establish a defensive line W of Yenan. With most of Japan's manuver forces up in the north the Chinese are running wild in the saouth central. Chinese troops invest Foochow and Shaohing on the coast and will invest Chaochow next turn. A shock attack is ordered for the Chinese troops at Foochow. [image]local://upfiles/14495/753508AFCA5E4C89BA3C76E7ED31F496.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (11/12/2011 12:01:43 AM)
5/26-5/27/42 FORTRESS BATAVIA The stubborn Dutch continue to resist at Batavia: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 77552 troops, 882 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 2836 Defending force 28678 troops, 462 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 480 Japanese adjusted assault: 684 Allied adjusted defense: 483 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1175 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 85 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 3211 casualties reported Squads: 59 destroyed, 62 disabled Non Combat: 105 destroyed, 210 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled) Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: 5th Division 2nd Division 1st Engineer Co 4th Engineer Co 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy 33rd Division 18th Division 16th Division 1st Tank Regiment 8th Tank Regiment I/81st Naval Guard Unit 16th Naval Guard Unit 21st Division 4th Div /7 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: Prajoda Garrison Battalion VII KNIL Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment Manado Garrison Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment Barisan KNIL Regiment Roodenburg Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment Van Altena Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion 1st Regt Cavalerie Mobiele Eenheid Battalion VI KNIL Battalion Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion Makassar Garrison Battalion Merak Base Force ABDA Batavia Base Force Tjilitap Base Force Commandement Marine Djojakarta Base Force MLD Loemafjang Base Force Bandoeng Base Force ML-KNIL 3rd KNIL AA Battalion Banjoewangi Base Force KNIL Army Command 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Madion Base Force Soerabaja Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion Malang Base Force Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 76878 troops, 882 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 2806 Defending force 26178 troops, 455 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 391 Japanese adjusted assault: 808 Allied adjusted defense: 489 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1245 casualties reported Squads: 21 destroyed, 34 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 66 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Allied ground losses: 908 casualties reported Squads: 51 destroyed, 21 disabled Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 57 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 27 (16 destroyed, 11 disabled) Assaulting units: I/81st Naval Guard Unit 5th Division 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy 33rd Division 16th Division 18th Division 4th Engineer Co 21st Division 1st Engineer Co 2nd Division 8th Tank Regiment 16th Naval Guard Unit 1st Tank Regiment 4th Div /7 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion Southern Army 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: VI KNIL Battalion 1st Regt Cavalerie VII KNIL Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 4th KNIL Regiment Roodenburg Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment Manado Garrison Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion Makassar Garrison Battalion KNIL Army Command 1 ML-KNIL Aviation MLD Loemafjang Base Force Banjoewangi Base Force ML-KNIL Commandement Marine Batavia Base Force ABDA Bandoeng Base Force Tjilitap Base Force 3rd KNIL AA Battalion Soerabaja Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion Merak Base Force Djojakarta Base Force Madion Base Force Malang Base Force SS O16 gains a measure of retribution by landing a torpedo on a fully loaded TK off Borneo: Sub attack near Donggala at 67,97 Japanese Ships TK Tatibana Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage PB Suyozai Maru Allied Ships SS O16 SS O16 launches 4 torpedoes at TK Tatibana Maru O16 diving deep .... PB Suyozai Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Suyozai Maru attacking submerged sub .... SS O16 eludes PB Suyozai Maru by diving deep PB Suyozai Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Suyozai Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Suyozai Maru fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Im shutting down the sub transport resupply from Australia to Batavia. Sips already en route will drop their loads and then redeploy to IJN shipping lanes or the south Pacific. CBI Chinese troops nearly capture Foochow on the coast: Ground combat at Foochow (86,60) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 3739 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 145 Defending force 3507 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 112 Allied adjusted assault: 102 Japanese adjusted defense: 50 Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1) Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 147 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 177 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 12th Chinese/B Corps 12th Chinese/C Corps 28th Chinese/A Corps Defending units: 115th Infantry Regiment 4th Field AF Const Bn /1 Ground combat at Foochow (86,60) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 3460 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 120 Defending force 3252 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 98 Allied adjusted assault: 17 Japanese adjusted defense: 11 Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 158 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 86 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Assaulting units: 12th Chinese/C Corps 12th Chinese/B Corps 28th Chinese/A Corps Defending units: 115th Infantry Regiment 4th Field AF Const Bn /1 Sigint reports that Japan has both armor and infantry loaded on xAKLs heading to Foochow. With the exception of liberating Chengchow/Loyang/Tsiaotso.... Chinese forces are spread too thin from their advance everywhere and anywhere in central/south central China to capture any important targets. Their main goal was to distract Dave and get the attention of the IJA 6000 AV army in northern China..... and this they certainly did as half of that army....some 3000 AV is now being railed to the south. The Chinese army withdrawing in the north towards Sian successfully vacated its hex this turn before the remaining 3000 AV Japanese army could launch an assault. Reinforcements are on the way and I should be able to stabilize the Chinese defensive line in the north some 3 or 4 hexes to the west. In Burma...Dave continues to recon the Burma Corps army approaching his army in Katha from the E on a daily basis. The 2000 AV Allied army about to exit the jungle just N of Shwebo has never been reconned so hopefully it hasnt been spotted yet. SOPAC/SWPAC The Australian 39th Batallion batters the unsupplied Yokosuka 1st SNLF troops that were paradropped on Deboyne Is. last turn: Ground combat at Deboyne Islands (103,135) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 628 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33 Defending force 192 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11 Allied adjusted assault: 40 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 40 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-) supply(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 55 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 39th Australian Battalion Defending units: Yokosuka 1st SNLF /3 Ground combat at Deboyne Islands (103,135) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 605 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30 Defending force 147 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6 Allied adjusted assault: 5 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-) fatigue(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 28 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 39th Australian Battalion Defending units: Yokosuka 1st SNLF /3 The US Army 182nd and 108th Regiments fail in their final attempt to capture the base on Tulagi: Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 5611 troops, 146 guns, 184 vehicles, Assault Value = 182 Defending force 2099 troops, 30 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 70 Allied adjusted assault: 44 Japanese adjusted defense: 55 Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 205 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 91 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 182nd Infantry Regiment 108th Infantry Regiment Defending units: 1st Ind. Engineer Regiment 44th Naval Guard Unit 7th Base Force /1 With no hope of resupply or reinforcement....these troops are basically toast unless I can get some airfields up and running in the Solomons to cover an amphib withdrawal. The 754th Tank launches the first attack on Tassafaronga: Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 661 troops, 3 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 112 Defending force 1597 troops, 19 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 18 Allied adjusted assault: 9 Japanese adjusted defense: 40 Allied assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 25 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 754th Tank Battalion 1st Marine Raider Battalion 3rd Marine Raider Battalion Defending units: 65th Bde /1 86th Nav Gd /1 5th Air Division 35th JNAF AF Unit 51st Const Co 39th Road Const Co /1 48th Road Const Co /1 Looks like Dave is making a major effort here to hold the base at Tassafaronga for reinforcements. He is airlifting the 65th Brigade and apparently supplies into the hex, built forts and is bombing my ground forces from his base at Munda every turn. IJN surface TFs bombard both Lunga and Russell Is.: Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed on ground P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Ise BB Yamashiro BB Nagato CA Mikuma CA Mogami DD Shikinami DD Inazuma DD Tokitsukaze DD Hayashio DD Kazegumo Allied ground losses: 304 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 28 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Vehicles lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled) Airbase hits 6 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 51 Port hits 21 Port supply hits 1 E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Ise BB Ise firing at Lunga BB Yamashiro firing at Lunga BB Nagato firing at Lunga CA Mikuma firing at Lunga E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Mogami CA Mogami firing at 8th Marine Regiment DD Shikinami firing at 8th Marine Regiment DD Inazuma firing at 8th Marine Regiment DD Tokitsukaze firing at 164th Infantry Regiment DD Hayashio firing at Lunga DD Kazegumo firing at Lunga Night Naval bombardment of Russell Islands at 113,136 Japanese Ships CL Isuzu CL Sendai DD Shirayuki DD Usugumo E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CL Isuzu CL Isuzu firing at 161st Infantry Regiment E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CL Sendai CL Sendai firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment DD Shirayuki firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Usugumo firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment The airfield at Lunga is still 75% damaged. I still am not able to airlift engineers into Russell Is. even though I have PBYs and a level 1 AF and there are no enemy troops present on the island. Allied construction troops continue to work on level 1 AFs at Aoba and Rennell Is. and a level 1 port at Rossel Is....once the port is built I have 3 SST subs to transport supplies/men/materiel into the base. The Allied carriers and surface TFs withdraw to Noumea to rearm, refuel, repair damage and take on AC replacements. Unfortunately....KB didnt return to port but instead sailed into our convoy lanes around Fiji and hammered a transport TF: Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 132,157 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 10 B5N2 Kate x 24 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged Allied Ships xAK West Camargo, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Admiral Wood, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk xAK Admiral Chase, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk xAK Ewa, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires xAK Liloa xAK San Anselmo, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk AM Quail Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo 18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 132,157 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 20 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 B5N2 Kate x 18 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged Allied Ships xAK Charles McCormick, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Cynthia Olson, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk xAK Lewis Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage xAK Liloa, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Clevedon, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Yasawa Islands at 132,157 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft D3A1 Val x 18 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 1 damaged Allied Ships AM Quail, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk xAK Atlanta City, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires xAK Mahimahi, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Lillian Luckenbach, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' * Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Atlanta City Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Lillian Luckenbach There were 29 xAKs in this TF and half were sunk today...the other half will probably sink tomorrow. The only thing that mitigates the pain of this fiasco is that the xAKs were loaded with fuel and supplies so no LCUs or AC squadrons were lost. The USN Silent Service finally begins to attack targets throughout the Solomons: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 26, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near Shortlands at 110,132 Japanese Ships LB-109, Shell hits 2, heavy damage Allied Ships SS Gato LB-109 is sighted by SS Gato SS Gato attacking LB-109 on the surface Sub attack near Vella Lavella at 109,133 Japanese Ships APD Tade, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS Trout Japanese ground losses: Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) SS Trout launches 2 torpedoes Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Shortlands at 109,131 Japanese Ships PB Okuyo Maru #2 Allied Ships SS Grayling SS Grayling launches 2 torpedoes Grayling bottoming out .... PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search... PB Okuyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Vella Lavella at 109,133 Japanese Ships CA Mikuma BB Yamashiro DD Shikinami DD Inazuma Allied Ships SS Growler SS Growler launches 4 torpedoes at CA Mikuma DD Shikinami fails to find sub and abandons search DD Inazuma attacking submerged sub .... DD Inazuma attacking submerged sub .... DD Inazuma fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Inazuma fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Inazuma fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Inazuma fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Shortlands at 110,132 Japanese Ships CM Naryu CM Hirashima DMS W-15 Allied Ships SS Gato SS Gato launches 2 torpedoes at CM Naryu Gato diving deep .... DMS W-15 fails to find sub, continues to search... DMS W-15 fails to find sub, continues to search... DMS W-15 fails to find sub, continues to search... DMS W-15 fails to find sub, continues to search... DMS W-15 fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 27, 42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Russell Islands at 112,135 Japanese Ships DD Shirayuki Allied Ships SS S-46, hits 1 SS S-46 is sighted by escort S-46 diving deep .... DD Shirayuki attacking submerged sub .... DD Shirayuki attacking submerged sub .... SS S-46 eludes DD Shirayuki by diving deep DD Shirayuki attacking submerged sub .... SS S-46 eludes DD Shirayuki by diving deep DD Shirayuki loses contact with SS S-46 DD Shirayuki cannot establish contact with SS S-46 DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub [image]local://upfiles/14495/E028379E40BA4D59B32FBC56FB4FBECB.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> FORTRESS BATAVIA (11/14/2011 2:34:37 AM)
5/28-5/29/42 FORTRESS BATAVIA.....THE END The valiant Dutch defenders at Batavia finally surrender after two more Japanese assaults: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 76137 troops, 882 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 2754 Defending force 24644 troops, 449 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 326 Japanese adjusted assault: 606 Allied adjusted defense: 447 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 425 casualties reported Squads: 10 destroyed, 37 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 57 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1839 casualties reported Squads: 113 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 68 destroyed, 99 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 21 (10 destroyed, 11 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: 18th Division 5th Division 4th Engineer Co 16th Naval Guard Unit 21st Division 16th Division 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy 1st Tank Regiment 8th Tank Regiment 2nd Division 33rd Division 1st Engineer Co I/81st Naval Guard Unit 4th Div /7 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 14th Shipping Engineer Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Southern Army 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: 4th KNIL Regiment 1st Regt Cavalerie Manado Garrison Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment Kendari Garrison Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion VII KNIL Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Roodenburg Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment Makassar Garrison Battalion MLD Tjilitap Base Force Merak Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Soerabaja Base Force Bandoeng Base Force Loemafjang Base Force Djojakarta Base Force Batavia Base Force Madion Base Force KNIL Army Command ML-KNIL Commandement Marine 3rd KNIL AA Battalion Banjoewangi Base Force ABDA Malang Base Force Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 75844 troops, 882 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 2769 Defending force 22924 troops, 444 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 284 Japanese adjusted assault: 633 Allied adjusted defense: 311 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Batavia !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 865 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 46 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Vehicles lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled) Allied ground losses: 25201 casualties reported Squads: 920 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1201 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 173 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 577 (577 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 131 (131 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 33 Assaulting units: 5th Division 2nd Division 80th Garrison Battalion 33rd Division 1st Engineer Co 21st Division I/81st Naval Guard Unit 4th Engineer Co 16th Division 18th Division 1st Tank Regiment 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy 16th Naval Guard Unit 8th Tank Regiment 4th Div /7 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 14th Shipping Engineer Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment Southern Army 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Roodenburg Battalion VII KNIL Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 4th KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment 1st Regt Cavalerie 2nd KNIL Regiment Makassar Garrison Battalion Soerabaja Base Force ML-KNIL Batavia Base Force Commandement Marine 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Loemafjang Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion Bandoeng Base Force Tjilitap Base Force Madion Base Force Merak Base Force 3rd KNIL AA Battalion ABDA Djojakarta Base Force KNIL Army Command MLD Banjoewangi Base Force Malang Base Force 25,000 Dutch troops are marched off into captivity. Japan suffered over 1500 squad disablements here.....but now 7 1/2 divisions are finally released for Phase II. PHILIPPINES Japan finally secures Mindanao by capturing Cayagan: Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 22503 troops, 200 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 734 Defending force 7002 troops, 81 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 120 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 218 Allied adjusted defense: 81 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Cagayan !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 342 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 2905 casualties reported Squads: 106 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 244 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 24 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 18 (18 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 52 (52 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 9 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 10th Garrison Unit 38th Division 62nd Naval Guard Unit 11th Garrison Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 1st /101st PA Battalion 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps The IJA 38th Division is now released for Phase II...that makes 8 1/2 IJA SAA divisions released this turn. CBI In Burma....2 Allied regiments exit the jungle and sever the Swebo/Katha highway. Somehow.....the other 1800 AV of Allied troops not only dont exit the jungle but have their movement reset to zero. Now Dave not only knows that Im trying to cut off his troops in Katha but most of my army is still stuck in the jungle. The 2 IJA divisions at Katha should easily be able to withdraw now as my 2 regiements will run for cover. In China...Chinese troops capture Shaohing as Dave abandons the city: Ground combat at Shaohing (91,56) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 8940 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 429 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Allied adjusted assault: 236 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 236 to 1 (fort level 1) Allied forces CAPTURE Shaohing !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: fatigue(-) Assaulting units: 86th Chinese/A Corps 100th Chinese/A Corps 88th Chinese/B Corps 86th Chinese/B Corps 10th Group Army Im reconning the Japoanese railhead at Taiyuan every turn. Some 3000 Japanese AV are now on the rails heading south. Meanwhile...the remaining 3000 AV Japanese army in the north has hunkered down on the taiyuan/Sian secondary road and the Chinese stop retreating and dig in. This turn represents the Chinese "high water mark" for the war. Chinese troops have captured Chengchow/Loyang/Tsiaotso/Shaohing and additional armies stand outside Kaifeng/Nanking/Hangchow. With 3000 Japanese AV on the rails now....Chinese troops will withdraw from Kaifeng/Nanking/Hangchow now but the offensive will continue further to the south around Amoy where Japan has no railroads. China has now regained its entire front line form the start of the war plus has captured Ichang/Nanchang/Shaohing. The IJA panzer korps rests in Canton and is flanked by 2 Chinese anti-tank traps. SOPAC/SWPAC Things have gone from bad to worse in this theatre. Two weeks ago I had a functioning level 4 AF at Lunga and both the Japanese AFs at Munda and Shortlands were out of business. Now....Lunga is over 80% damaged and both Munda and Shortlands support over 100 AC apiece. I tried an all out attempt to capture Tassafaronga but Dave was able to reinforce it this turn with virtually all of the 65th Brigade by fast transport: Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 1939 troops, 3 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 114 Defending force 5354 troops, 46 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 233 Allied adjusted assault: 31 Japanese adjusted defense: 166 Allied assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 344 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 18 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 195 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 32 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 45 (29 destroyed, 16 disabled) Assaulting units: 754th Tank Battalion 1st Marine Raider Battalion 3rd Marine Raider Battalion Defending units: 65th Bde /1 86th Nav Gd /1 5th Air Division 39th Road Const Co /1 51st Const Co 35th JNAF AF Unit 48th Road Const Co /1 Now....my only AF in the Solomons is at Lunga and its over 80% damaged. Im not able to transport engineers into Russell Is. and I will never capture Tassafaronga or Tulagi. Im going to withdraw from Tassafaronga....Dave will drop off several divisions here to recapture Lunga. Im now in danger of losing the equivalent of nearly 3 divisons at Russell Is./Tulagi/Tassafaronga/Lunga. On a positive note....CV Lexington left port at Luganville this turn and conducted sea trials....the patch over the torpedo hole in her hull seemed to hold so she will rejoin the fleet to project another 100 AC. Cv wasp will complete her traverse of the Panama canal in 4 days and should reach the south Pacific in 3-4 weks. When Cv wasp arrives on station in the south Pacific......we will attempt a massive resupply/reinforcement op on Lunga.

racndoc -> RE: FORTRESS BATAVIA (11/14/2011 2:35:24 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance 5/28-5/29/42 FORTRESS BATAVIA.....THE END The valiant Dutch defenders at Batavia finally surrender after two more Japanese assaults: Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 76137 troops, 882 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 2754 Defending force 24644 troops, 449 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 326 Japanese adjusted assault: 606 Allied adjusted defense: 447 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 425 casualties reported Squads: 10 destroyed, 37 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 57 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1839 casualties reported Squads: 113 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 68 destroyed, 99 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 21 (10 destroyed, 11 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: 18th Division 5th Division 4th Engineer Co 16th Naval Guard Unit 21st Division 16th Division 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy 1st Tank Regiment 8th Tank Regiment 2nd Division 33rd Division 1st Engineer Co I/81st Naval Guard Unit 4th Div /7 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 14th Shipping Engineer Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Southern Army 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: 4th KNIL Regiment 1st Regt Cavalerie Manado Garrison Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment Kendari Garrison Battalion 4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion VII KNIL Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Roodenburg Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion 6th KNIL Regiment Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 2nd KNIL Regiment Makassar Garrison Battalion MLD Tjilitap Base Force Merak Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Soerabaja Base Force Bandoeng Base Force Loemafjang Base Force Djojakarta Base Force Batavia Base Force Madion Base Force KNIL Army Command ML-KNIL Commandement Marine 3rd KNIL AA Battalion Banjoewangi Base Force ABDA Malang Base Force Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 75844 troops, 882 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 2769 Defending force 22924 troops, 444 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 284 Japanese adjusted assault: 633 Allied adjusted defense: 311 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Batavia !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 865 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 46 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Vehicles lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled) Allied ground losses: 25201 casualties reported Squads: 920 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1201 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 173 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 577 (577 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 131 (131 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 33 Assaulting units: 5th Division 2nd Division 80th Garrison Battalion 33rd Division 1st Engineer Co 21st Division I/81st Naval Guard Unit 4th Engineer Co 16th Division 18th Division 1st Tank Regiment 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy 16th Naval Guard Unit 8th Tank Regiment 4th Div /7 4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 14th Shipping Engineer Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment Southern Army 2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion Defending units: Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion 3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion Kendari Garrison Battalion Roodenburg Battalion VII KNIL Battalion Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion Barisan KNIL Regiment 4th KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment 1st Regt Cavalerie 2nd KNIL Regiment Makassar Garrison Battalion Soerabaja Base Force ML-KNIL Batavia Base Force Commandement Marine 1 ML-KNIL Aviation Loemafjang Base Force 1st KNIL AA Battalion Bandoeng Base Force Tjilitap Base Force Madion Base Force Merak Base Force 3rd KNIL AA Battalion ABDA Djojakarta Base Force KNIL Army Command MLD Banjoewangi Base Force Malang Base Force 25,000 Dutch troops are marched off into captivity. Japan suffered over 1500 squad disablements here.....but now 7 1/2 divisions are finally released for Phase II. PHILIPPINES Japan finally secures Mindanao by capturing Cayagan: Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 22503 troops, 200 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 734 Defending force 7002 troops, 81 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 120 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 218 Allied adjusted defense: 81 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Cagayan !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 342 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 2905 casualties reported Squads: 106 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 244 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 24 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 18 (18 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 52 (52 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 9 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 10th Garrison Unit 38th Division 62nd Naval Guard Unit 11th Garrison Unit 88th Naval Guard Unit 67th Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 102nd PA Infantry/B Division 103rd PA Infantry Regiment 1st /101st PA Battalion 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/A Division 102nd PA Infantry Regiment 102nd PA Infantry/C Division Cagayan USAAF Base Force III Philippine Corps The IJA 38th Division is now released for Phase II...that makes 8 1/2 IJA SAA divisions released this turn. CBI In Burma....2 Allied regiments exit the jungle and sever the Swebo/Katha highway. Somehow.....the other 1800 AV of Allied troops not only dont exit the jungle but have their movement reset to zero. Now Dave not only knows that Im trying to cut off his troops in Katha but most of my army is still stuck in the jungle. The 2 IJA divisions at Katha should easily be able to withdraw now as my 2 regiements will run for cover. In China...Chinese troops capture Shaohing as Dave abandons the city: Ground combat at Shaohing (91,56) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 8940 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 429 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Allied adjusted assault: 236 Japanese adjusted defense: 1 Allied assault odds: 236 to 1 (fort level 1) Allied forces CAPTURE Shaohing !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: fatigue(-) Assaulting units: 86th Chinese/A Corps 100th Chinese/A Corps 88th Chinese/B Corps 86th Chinese/B Corps 10th Group Army Im reconning the Japoanese railhead at Taiyuan every turn. Some 3000 Japanese AV are now on the rails heading south. Meanwhile...the remaining 3000 AV Japanese army in the north has hunkered down on the taiyuan/Sian secondary road and the Chinese stop retreating and dig in. This turn represents the Chinese "high water mark" for the war. Chinese troops have captured Chengchow/Loyang/Tsiaotso/Shaohing and additional armies stand outside Kaifeng/Nanking/Hangchow. With 3000 Japanese AV on the rails now....Chinese troops will withdraw from Kaifeng/Nanking/Hangchow now but the offensive will continue further to the south around Amoy where Japan has no railroads. China has now regained its entire front line form the start of the war plus has captured Ichang/Nanchang/Shaohing. The IJA panzer korps rests in Canton and is flanked by 2 Chinese anti-tank traps. SOPAC/SWPAC Things have gone from bad to worse in this theatre. Two weeks ago I had a functioning level 4 AF at Lunga and both the Japanese AFs at Munda and Shortlands were out of business. Now....Lunga is over 80% damaged and both Munda and Shortlands support over 100 AC apiece. I tried an all out attempt to capture Tassafaronga but Dave was able to reinforce it this turn with virtually all of the 65th Brigade by fast transport: Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 1939 troops, 3 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 114 Defending force 5354 troops, 46 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 233 Allied adjusted assault: 31 Japanese adjusted defense: 166 Allied assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 344 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 18 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 195 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 32 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 45 (29 destroyed, 16 disabled) Assaulting units: 754th Tank Battalion 1st Marine Raider Battalion 3rd Marine Raider Battalion Defending units: 65th Bde /1 86th Nav Gd /1 5th Air Division 39th Road Const Co /1 51st Const Co 35th JNAF AF Unit 48th Road Const Co /1 Now....my only AF in the Solomons is at Lunga and its over 80% damaged. Im not able to transport engineers into Russell Is. and I will never capture Tassafaronga or Tulagi. Im going to withdraw from Tassafaronga....Dave will drop off several divisions here to recapture Lunga. Im now in danger of losing the equivalent of nearly 3 divisons at Russell Is./Tulagi/Tassafaronga/Lunga. On a positive note....CV Lexington left port at Luganville this turn and conducted sea trials....the patch over the torpedo hole in her hull seemed to hold so she will rejoin the fleet to project another 100 AC. CV Wasp will complete her traverse of the Panama canal in 4 days and should reach the south Pacific in 3-4 weeks. When CV Wasp arrives on station in the south Pacific......we will attempt a massive resupply/reinforcement op on Lunga. [image]local://upfiles/14495/608E02A59DBA4CBCAF9A3E3AF6BA42C9.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (11/14/2011 3:03:00 PM)
5/30-5/31/42 SOPAC/SWPAC Japan counterattacks at Tassafaronga and wins.....the USMC raiders and 754th Tamk are forced to retreat back to Lunga. The Japanese are now firmly entrenched on Guadalcanal and it will just be a matter of time before massive reinforcements are landed. Most of the Allied fleet is in port at Noumea.....repairing damage and taking on AC replacements. PHILIPPINES All quiet on Luzon. It will be interesting to see how much of the SAA is diverted here. CBI Chinese troops continue to withdraw from Hangchow and Nanking. All quiet in northern China as both sides dig in. In Burma....the IJA troops at Katha remain in place. Looks like Dave is unimpressed with my counteroffensive so far. [image]local://upfiles/14495/2C44DE85C2C443C99AE4FC4808F8563D.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> SECOND BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA (11/17/2011 6:12:59 AM)
6/1-6/2/42 PHILIPPINES Dave launches a deliberate assault on Luzon for the first time in months at San Fernando: Ground combat at San Fernando (80,74) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 18111 troops, 265 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 565 Defending force 13918 troops, 156 guns, 288 vehicles, Assault Value = 472 Japanese adjusted assault: 111 Allied adjusted defense: 205 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 282 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 64 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 60 (5 destroyed, 55 disabled) Allied ground losses: 271 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 40 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Vehicles lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled) Assaulting units: 90th Infantry Regiment 48th Division 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 30th JNAF AF Unit Defending units: 26th PS Cavalry Regiment 21st PA Infantry/C Division 21st PA Infantry/A Division 194th Tank Battalion 11th PA Infantry/A Division 21st PA Infantry/B Division 192nd Tank Battalion 11th PA Infantry/C Division 41st PA Infantry/B Division USAFFE For some reason I cant draw supplies into San Fernando....yet if I withdraw to Lingayen I lose the favorable defensive terrain. I will continue to roate troops with supplies into san fernando...and withdraw the unsupplied troops. I still have over 70,000 supplies on Luzon and if the cbt report gives Dave the impression that Im out of supplies on Luzon so much the better. SECOND BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA This could be the defining naval battle of the war. Dave hit Russell Is. this turn with both naval and aerial bombardments: Night Naval bombardment of Russell Islands at 113,136 Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Fuso DD Susuki DD Hasu DD Mikazuki DD Ayanami DD Shikinami DD Inazuma DD Suzukaze DD Kazegumo Allied ground losses: 194 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled) E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Hyuga BB Hyuga firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Fuso BB Fuso firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Susuki firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Hasu firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Mikazuki firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Ayanami firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment DD Shikinami firing at 58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment DD Inazuma firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Suzukaze firing at 161st Infantry Regiment DD Kazegumo firing at 161st Infantry Regiment I've posted a screenshot with dispositions of Japanese AC. Russell Is. is now 60% damaged but now Lunga is 100% repaired. In fact...Lunga built 2 levels of entrenchments this turn. Recon show Dave has 4 BBs at Shortlands. Dave has Oscars and Sallys at Munda. Dave has A6M2s at Shortlands but they are mostly sweeping my AFs so if he has 90 Netties at Shortlands they will be mostly unescorted. The Oscars and Sallys at Munda hit Russell Is. this turn and undoubtably will hit Lunga next turn. This is perhaps the turning point of the war. The last time Lunga was 100% operational I screwed up the surface TF defense and the AF was quickly shut down with the eventual loss of over 130 AC. Now...I have a choice. Fight to keep Lunga open and heavily reinforce with troops and supplies or withdraw and lose all the Solomons. Im totally out of position for what is about to happen but perhaps Japan is also out of position. All of the Allied BBs and CVs are at Noumea. Im staging 120 fighters and 125 bombers into Lunga and 17 cruisers along with 16 DDs at Luganville will rush to Lunga to defend against the IJN onslaught. Ive staged 25 of the brand new Avengers into Lunga should the IJN BBs come calling next turn. Some 90 B-26s at Lunga will attempt to close the Japanese AF at Shortlands while 80 4Es at Luganville will attempt to close Munda. Adm Summerville will race from Noumea to Lunga with BB PoW and BB Warspite and should arrive by the 2nd day of the turn to fight off IJB BBs. In addition...the Allied carriers will sortie into the Coral Sea in 4 seperate groups and by the end of the 2nd day we should have another 80 TBs in range of possible IJN bombardment TFs. CV Lexington will sail with a patch over her torpedo damage as will the newly arrived CVE Long Island....I staged a VMSB Vindicator squadron to CVE Long Island so those 2 ships alone should enable us to project an additional 110 AC into the fight....nearly equal with beefed up KB. That along with additional sub patrols and mines should make Lunga a more dangerous destination for IJN bombardment TFs. KB has apparently finally withdrawn to Rabaul and beyond to rearm/refuel/take on AC replacements. It will take me 2-3 turns to get all my ducks in a row but if I fail here I maybe lose all the Solomons and up to 3 divisions of troops. Stay tuned. [image]local://upfiles/14495/0E8C646808CB4C21AC3F1637E6C556DB.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> THE AIR WAR (11/18/2011 3:22:01 AM)
6/3/42 THE AIR WAR Japanese plane losses have ramped up nearly 30% since I last posted AC losses as of 5/4/42. Japan has now lost 2769 AC vs Allied losses of 2335 AC. In A2A......Japan has lost 1204 AC vs Allied losses of 1028 AC....Japan has now lost 20% more AC in A2A combat than the Allies. Here is a screenshot of Japanese plane losses by type. Notice that A6M2 losses of 619 are nearly 40% greater than on 5/4/42(446). In fact....A6M2 losses have doubled in the last 7 weeks. So Japan has lost 170 A6M2s in the last month and over 300 A6M2s in the last 2 months. Are those kinds of losses sustainable in AE? Are the resultant losses in pilots sustainable in AE? [image]local://upfiles/14495/53D109CE52774AE59205A8F05D7C68B5.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: THE AIR WAR (11/18/2011 3:37:04 AM)
6/3/42 THE AIR WAR.....CONTINUED And here is a screenshot of Allied plane losses by type. Noticeable here is the presence of the great A6M2 killer.....the P-39D......on the list for the first time....in 2nd place. Note that nearly 30% of the P-39D losses occured on the ground from the naval bombardment of Lunga. [image]local://upfiles/14495/5ABF274B8E5F4494B8FE056CBE0318EC.jpg[/image]

Wirraway_Ace -> RE: THE AIR WAR (11/18/2011 4:22:30 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance 6/3/42 THE AIR WAR Japanese plane losses have ramped up nearly 30% since I last posted AC losses as of 5/4/42. Japan has now lost 2769 AC vs Allied losses of 2335 AC. In A2A......Japan has lost 1204 AC vs Allied losses of 1028 AC....Japan has now lost 20% more AC in A2A combat than the Allies. Here is a screenshot of Japanese plane losses by type. Notice that A6M2 losses of 619 are nearly 40% greater than on 5/4/42(446). In fact....A6M2 losses have doubled in the last 7 weeks. So Japan has lost 170 A6M2s in the last month and over 300 A6M2s in the last 2 months. Are those kinds of losses sustainable in AE? Are the resultant losses in pilots sustainable in AE? [image]local://upfiles/14495/53D109CE52774AE59205A8F05D7C68B5.jpg[/image] My opinion is he can not sustain this loss rate in trained Navy fighter pilots (assuming he has lost approximately 300 A6M2 pilots in 6 months). However, he can easily do so with Army pilots, so I would expect to see a lot more Oscars in the Solomons. They have good range with drop tanks and their cruise speed makes them good escorts for Netties or Sallys. By next month, you may see Tojos arrive in large numbers if he made a serious attempt to accelarate them. Of course,

Page: << < prev 3 4 [5] 6 7 next > >>

Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

1.3125