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wobbly -> (10/15/2003 11:57:31 AM)
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Buna is liberated!
Interestingly the Japs retreat in good order.
The day is not all mine though as Herbie-san manages to unleash his naval pilots at my transport lads again and they do massive damage. I am falling into the complacency trap - trying to do too much and I can't cover it all.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/17/42
Weather: Clear
Naval bombardment of Buna, at 12,38
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 138
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 45
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
Lee does extrordinarily well for the make-up of his force 7 or so DDs
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Air attack on 29th Regiment, at 12,38
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 12
B-25D Mitchell x 13
B-26B Marauder x 34
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 68
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
11 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
8 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
5 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
5 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
Aerial bombardment of his troops continues
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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N Kate x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 10 damaged
Allied Ships
AP McCawley
AP Arthur Middleton
AP George F. Elliot
AP Barnett, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP President Adams, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Fuller, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 113
Guns lost 2
Now the results of this are bad enough but in reality about 3 more ships than the ones reported are crippled - the Fuller sinks taking much of the Kanga force with it.
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Air attack on 29th Regiment, at 12,38
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 7
Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 13
P-40E Kittyhawk x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 1 damaged
FLT E.Blackwell of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 3
Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x TBF Avenger at 6000 feet
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Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
B5N Kate x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
1LT O.Stewart of VMF-212 is credited with kill number 7
Allied Ships
AK Idomeneus, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Algorab
More Kates strike more landings at Buna - they were beginning to think they would escape, and in fact they do - the FOW plays its hand again as no ships are damaged upon inspection.
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Ground combat at Buna
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 14826 troops, 266 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 29681 troops, 299 guns, 52 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 48
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Ground combat at Buna
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 27655 troops, 299 guns, 52 vehicles
Defending force 21444 troops, 307 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 932
Guns lost 5
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 16
OK - so no victory message and no cheering of troops but on the next day all his non-coms and small inf units have started retreating towards PM. Buna is in my hands.
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The infantry will continue to attack the remaining two large inf units at Buna.
My BB force under Scott is reconned this turn. I am throwing caution to the wind and attacking Munda anyway. My biggest worry is mines - I don't have a DSM with the TF - they are in high demanad or in the wrong place.
Spruance is retreating back to Townsville to rest his weary aviators.
Slowly but surely, back in Noumea, the AKs and AP are gathering to bring the Americans to this war.
The Wasp offloads its faulty 30 plane F4F sqd (only 20 are available the other 10 in reserve) and will load up a marine unit tomorrow. I really want to add another sqd here for ferrying but can't due to the phantom A-20 still hangingin around.
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