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wobbly -> (10/12/2003 11:05:15 AM)
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Herbie-san again brings out the Japanese airforce and manages to find my FT mission as it returns to GG. The TF is not fast enough to get to Buna and back to GG in a double sprint. I had been CAPping them but the thunderstorms that were predicted were enough to make me rest the fighters I had on that duty.
The PM invasion force is ordered to hold - I don't want them going in just yet as the need to defend both Buna invasions and PM invasions will be too much, and as previously stated I may need the forces to attack Buna yet.
Spruance doesn't take on the straits until tonight - fingers are crossed that he can make it through - I am taking the same lines as I did on the way up (no reports of DDs destroying mines on that route).
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/14/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
Air attack on Buna , at 12,38
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 1
Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 13
P-40E Kittyhawk x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 14
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 12
Attacking Level Bombers:
13 x TBF Avenger at 6000 feet
Very strange - herbie-san has appeared to move some ACs to Buna airfield - what the hell for?
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Air attack on TF at 18,39
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 6 damaged
Allied Ships
APD Gregory, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD Little, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD McKean, Bomb hits 1
DD Monssen
DD Anderson
My FT mission is hit by ACs flying from Gasmata - the Little seccumbs to her wounds. THe Mekean is fine but the Gregory will have to dock at GG and get the overworked support crews to work saving her.
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Ground combat at Buna
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 15657 troops, 269 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 22147 troops, 217 guns, 52 vehicles
LCDR L.Nagano of F1/6th Daitai bails out and is RESCUED
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 39
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Ground combat at Buna
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 13877 troops, 127 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 22764 troops, 313 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 3
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The remains of the FT mission will make for GG and relative safety.
It is getting near to the time that the American ground pounders start to do a bit of the work. To this end some of the AKs and APs that have returned to Noumea are put to repair rather than being sent to Pearl, and the transport ships released from Pearl are also allowed to remain until I can get a big enough convoy together.
Unloading continues at Buna - with it being a beach hex the unloading will take at least 2 more days. I continue to CAP it heavily and another FT mission is set up to continue moving more troops to Buna - this justifies some LRCAP this turn
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