Schlussel -> RE: Back for the First Time – Allied AAR vs. AI - War in the Pacific: Admirals Edition (11/22/2015 5:29:25 PM)
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Week 21: April 27th – May 4th 1942 North Pacific: An Base Force and small infantry force has arrived in Seattle, already assigned to the North Pacific. As soon as transports are available, they will head to Amchitka. No IJN activity in the region. Central Pacific: Base building on Baker & Canton. No IJN activity. South Pacific: Lexington& Hornet reached the Japanese amphib TF at Nukufeatu and wiped it out. 9 AK’s, 1-CM, and 500 casualties, not too shabby. No Japanese troops on Nukufeatu anymore, not sure if they escaped. After that stroke of luck, the Lex and Hornet continue on their journey to the Coral Sea where more action ensues. New Guinea/Solomons: Here comes trouble! Late in the week, 2 IJN CV’s + a strong surface component (4 BB’s/13 CA’s) enter the Solomon Sea. 2-BB’s + escorts break off from the main force and bombard Port Moresby (Damage: 13 Port/29 Service/33 Runway) and damage over 15 of my Kittyhawk fighters based there. In addition, a small IJN amphibious force performs a daring “channel dash”-like maneuver…speeding from the DEI through the Torres Strait and landing on Terapo on the SW coast of New Guinea. My PBY’s on Horn Island spotted them, but I didn’t have any strike aircraft nearby to respond. I plan to rectify this, as a squadron of old Vindicators are on their way to Horn...they’ll do for now. Terapo is taken quickly, as my only garrison there was a hodge-podge of NG rifle troops that were evicted from Lae and Wau last month. Back in the Solomon Sea, the main IJN force approaches Milne Bay and lets loose a few airstirkes that damage or destroy all remaining Allied fighters at the base. I have a CV Force (Lex, Enterprise, Hornet, Yorktown, & Hermes) lying in wait SW of Rossel Island. The next morning, both forces locate one another and immediately launch airstrikes. The intense battle that followed see-sawed back and forth. The Japanese struck first with 10 Zeroes/18 Kates/18 Vals. About half of the bombers make it through the Allied CAP, consisting of a mixed bag of 50 Wildcats. The battle hardened IJN attackers focused on the carriers and put two torps into Lexington (34 SYS/30 FLT) and dropped 2 bombs on Enterprise (20 SYS). Then it was the Allies’ turn….Dauntless’, Devastators, and Wildcats press home their attack with 1000k bombs (torps are too unreliable). CVL Shoho takes 8 bomb hits, CL Soryu takes 3, and an escorting cruiser, Oi, takes 8. In the afternoon, another Allied strikes puts 8 more bombs into Soryu + a few onto 4 escorting destroyers. Japanese CAP was MIA during the afternoon strike on the carriers, so all the Allied bombers got through. A separate PM strike from DB’s based on Rossel Island targeted an IJN surface force, and hit BB Ise 7 times with bombs. Unfortunately all were armor belt hits, so I’m assuming they caused limited damage. Battle report: Allies: 2 CV’s with moderate/heavy damage. 48 aircraft lost (30 of them Dauntlesses) Japanese: 1-CV & 1 CVL & 1-CA heavily damaged. 54 aircraft lost (36 of them were Vals & Kates) The Battle of the Solomon Sea was a tactical draw, but since the Japanese were forced to retire…I’ll claim a strategic victory for the Allies on this one. Both of my damaged carriers are headed to Sydney for immediate repairs, with multiple ASW TF’s patrolling the route to scare off any lurking IJN subs. As long as there are no other IJN CV’s are sighted, my remaining 3 CV’s in the area will stay to protect the Milne Bay re-supply convoy. In addition to supply, the convoy also carries a base force that will allow Milne Bay to support a few more fighter squadrons, essential for survival now that the Japanese focus is shifting to the immediate area. DEI/Philippines: In the Philippines, the Allied bases are isolated and low on supplies. In the DEI, IJA land forces have reached Soerabaja and are preparing for an assault. Allied forces on Sumatra are being methodically overrun. SE Asia/China: In central Burma, my forces are in full retreat mode, trying to reach the safety of the Indian border. Along the coast, my Bleinheim bombers are harassing an IJA force attempting to flank my defensive line south of Akyab. Not sure what effect they are having, but it’s nice to see the Japanese getting carpet bombed for a change. In China, I am focusing on conserving as much supply as possible by staying on the defensive. KB Watch: -3-CV sighted north of Kavieng headed NE. (4/28) -1-CV anchored in Palembang (4/28) -1-CV sighted South of Java (4/29) -2-CV sighted north of Batavia (4/30) -2-CV sighted north of Batavia (5/1) -2-CV & 2-CVL sighted near Buka heading South West. (5/3) -1-CV North of Batavia (5/3) -4-CV anchored in Palembang (5/3) -1CV & 1-CVL in Solomon Sea (5/4) Notable Base Captures: -Langsa [Sumatra] and Alor [DEI] captured by Japan (4/29) -Tjiltajap [Java] and Bassein [Burma] captured by Japan (4/30) -Medan [Sumatra] captured by Japan (5/1) -Terapo [New Guineaa] captured by Japan (5/4) Campaign Overview: Aircraft Losses to date [change]: Allies: 1,174 [+83] Biggest Losses (#): Buffalo (131), Dauntless (85), 139WH3 (83) Japanese: 1,796 [+132] Biggest Losses (#): Betty (416), Nate (161), Sally (159) Ship Losses to date [change]: Allies: 219 [+5] Notables: CA Portland, CA Adelaide, CL Durban, CL Sumatra, CL Java Japanese: 222 [+11] Notables: CVL Zuiho, CVE Taiyo, CVE Hosho, CA Mogami, CA Mikuma, CA Suzya, CA Adoba. Army Losses to date [change]: Allies: 6,820 [+299] Japanese: 1,607 [+54] A/J Ratio: 4.24 to 1 VP Totals [change]: Allies: 14,165 [+746] Japanese: 15,198 [+545] A/J Ratio: 0.93 to 1 Other Notes: -P-40's and Airacobras from the US West Coast are finally arriving in the New Guinea/ Solomon Island area. Priority is being given to the effort to distribute these new squadrons to the front line bases in the region. Hopefully creating these island CV’s will be an acceptable stopgap until my actual CV’s get repaired.
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