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wobbly -> (11/2/2003 3:08:40 AM)
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Alert Alert!! Many Jap transport TFs and AG TFs in the open sea between Rabaul and GG, also some FT ships come in to Buna and drop off a scouting party.
There is one TF in particular that is dangerous in the extreme - an AP TF just north of Goodenough island. In this position it could be aiming for GG or DBD (or Buna for that matter, but this is less important). It is scouted but hides under rain squalls and cloud all day so I can't get a crack at it. Instead my fighter bombers and beauforts hit AGs and have a crack at his cruiser force which is still in PM.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/05/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 12
B-26B Marauder x 21
no losses
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9
Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
12 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
I forgot to turn these guys off so they will go again tonight - they are not accomplishing anything.
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Air attack on 144th Regiment, at 17,42
Allied aircraft
A-20B Havoc x 12
no losses
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 4
Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
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Air attack on TF at 12,32
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 24
no losses
Japanese Ships
APD 34, Shell hits 56, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 30, Shell hits 4
This APD is guarded by many PCs and PGs - the P-39s hit the most valuable target. However, not before she drops off her men at Buna.
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Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 17,32
Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 25
no losses
Japanese Ships
AG 104, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AG 114, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AG 352, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Beaufort at 1000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
2 x Beaufort at 1000 feet
3 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 1000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
Flying all the way to Gasmata for this strike, it shows you how the weather went against me, there were plenty of better targets much closer.
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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 6
P-40E Kittyhawk x 25
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
Beaufort x 4 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
LTJG J.Masuyama of F2/2nd Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Maya
Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x Beaufort at 200 feet
2 x Beaufort at 200 feet
All for nothing again - his cruisers live a charmed life - they are being well covered however.
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Air attack on TF at 19,36
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 18
P-39D Airacobra x 42
no losses
Japanese Ships
AG 102, Shell hits 48, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AG 103, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AG 101, Shell hits 60, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 159
Here is another mid-ocean AG force of invasion troops. I get the feeling GG is the target and he is using everything he can get his hands on to attempt to push it through.
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Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
AG 109, Shell hits 8
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Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 1750 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 12283 troops, 92 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 3
He continues to probe at my PM forces. The Aussies coming over the Kokoda track are 24 KMs away. My PM invasion force cannot enter the PM hex as the enemy cruiser force is still there. It is not harmed this turn as it has a very heavy fighter cover contingent above it.
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Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 545 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 5702 troops, 100 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10
attacks and bombardments appear to be having more effect...
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Herbie is giving it another large try - GG is the only target worth the risk so GG will become a blood bath yet again. The weather is slated to be clear so I move all my ex-navy bombers (3 dauntless, 3 Avenger) and 1 sqd of wildcats and a sqd of P-39s to GG. With this force his fighter cover should not stop me from attacking, the question will be "attack what". My prefered target has to be the AP transport unit - it is the most dangerous. However, it is far more likely they will attack the cruiser force.
I have a CLAA and a DD escorting my PM invasion force - they detach and head to GG.
Lee, on his way to townsville with 14 surface ships, diverts to head towards GG. Scott puts to sea from Townsville in a hodge podge TF of 1 CL 1 CLAA and 7 DDs. All are bound for GG.
At GG itself the aussies again go on the attack - the Heavies will fly from Cairns in a suppression raid and the DC-3s will move the 3rd Aussie division HQ to GG (yes all this time I have not given my men at GG divsional support!). If I can dislodge the units in GG before more arrive I have a better chance of survival.
If my naval bombers hit his cruiser force he has to contemplate retirement. In which case I go ahead with the invasion of PM. If my bombers hit his transport tf he is going to be hurting but will likely get men off - it remains to be seen how many!
I have no more brigades in Oz to fly in (not entirely true - a RCT has arried at Brisbane but it needs to travel all the way to townsville to board the DC-3s).
Condor - I am so short of subs it's not funny - about 6 active ones - 4 of which are defending GG, 1 defending Buna and one up by truk. He is just too effective at hitting my subs - he's killed 7 S boats and one fleet boat, also injured 4 -6 others - pretty good for the japs.
The problem with night attacks is they never involve as many ACs as you get during the day - but it does appear to reduce losses. I don't appear to be able to stop sending ALL my heavy bombers but it means they can only go every 2-3 days. Possibly it is better to halve the effort but go more often.
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