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Attack Condor -> (11/9/2003 5:27:31 PM)
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Dec 16th, 1942
Weather: Rain
Here we go. Quarks CVs get close to TV, and LBA responds. He has 44 A6M2 and A6M3 [I]Zeroes[/I] providing CAP (down from 68 yesterday). I’m sure the decrease is due to him LRCAP TV to try to intercept C47s ferrying troops into TV. This time, I have P-40 support for the bombers, and although the fighters do get chewed up, 4 of his fighters are lost as well in air–to-air combat. Only one A-20 is lost due to CAP. Quark’s flak, on the other hand is as effective as ever. I do manage to get one bomb into [I]Kaga[/I], with a critical damage result (I’m very surprised Quark has exposed his carriers so close to my LBA).
Quark also sends a FT force to take undefended Cairns. It has some fuel there, and I’m sure he wants to use it if he can.
[I]Chenango[/I] is caught by Quark’s BB TF. Not much more to say there.
Two sub intercepts, no hits though. :(
Back east, the supply convoy is unloading. 4000 tons ashore, 17000 more to go. The 43rd division should land in two days. One P-38 and one P-39 squadron provide LRCAP, from LV and Wunpuko, respectively. Quark has a FT TF at Irau, with 3 INF units there. I have the BB TF led by [I]South Dakota[/I] (this time, with [I]Southard[/I] along for the ride) ready to sail north to Irau again. I also have 2 CA TFs led by [I]Louisville[/I] and [I]Vincennes[/I] ready to react into Kourouratopo if Quark FTs there. Additionally, S-45 has also moved to Kourouratopo.
In SWPAC, 48 B-26 [I]Marauders[/I] have arrived in CT. One half strength Navy F4F-4 squadron joins the defenders at TV. 2 more full strength Army P-40E [I]Warhawk[/I] squadrons arrive in TV as well. Also, the first P-38 [I]Lightning[/I] squadron arrives at TV as well. Let’s see how his [I]Zeroes[/I] like that J And, for good measure, a full strength [I]Beaufighter[/I] FB squadron arrives at TV today. With all these moves, I hope to overwhelm his fighters.
More SBDs and TBFs on the way, via [I]Sangamon[/I]. I hope they arrive just as Quark’s fighters start to wear down.
The last of the [I]Beauforts[/I] and one [I]Hudson[/I] squadron are sent from TV to Brissy to rest and refit (I’m learning the [I]Beauforts[/I] need to go in after wounded prey, not ships that have effective flak).
Back at Brissy, 6 full strength C-47 squadrons are ready to airlift reinforcements into TV as necessary. First, however, Quark’s LRCAP needs to be removed. He may try to send fighters to Cairns and use the base that way. Due into Brissy in 6 days is the 8th Australian Armored regiment (with Grant tanks).
At Cairns, the IJN DD [I]Tokitsukazi[/I] hit a mine during her FT run.
[I]Suwannee[/I] with 4 DDs due in 2 days. [I]Maryland[/I] with one CL and 7 DDs due in 5 days.
Things are getting very busy. Perhaps Quark will have his coordination problems again…… One can hope :)
The report:
[I]AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/15/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
Sub attack at 40,41
Japanese Ships
AG 111, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage (sunk0
Allied Ships
SS Trout
[B]Burn, baby, burn[/B]
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Night Time Surface Combat at 14,56
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei
BB Yamato
CA Mikuma
CL Kiso
DD Akitsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Kamikaze
DD Matsukaze
Allied Ships
CVE Chenango, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
[B]With no maneuvering to speak of, Chenango is simply overrun.[/B]
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Sub attack at 12,58
Japanese Ships
AP Zukai Maru
Allied Ships
SS Greenling
[B]I can’t afford to miss APs like this… [/B]
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Air attack on TF at 15,56
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 14
Hudson x 17
Beaufort x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 10
A-20B Boston x 9
B-25D Mitchell x 5
B-17E Fortress x 6
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
Beaufort x 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CA Mikuma
CL Kiso
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 5
DD Fumizuki
BB Hiei
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
0 x Hudson at 20000 feet
9 x A-20B Boston at 20000 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
6 x Hudson at 20000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
3 x Beaufort at 200 feet
8 x Hudson at 20000 feet
5 x B-25D Mitchell at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
[B]No planes lost, but no penetration on Kongo, either. The SBDs were only carrying 500 lb bombs this trip[/B]
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Air attack on TF at 15,56
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Matsukaze
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
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Air attack on TF at 12,58
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3 Zero x 17
Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 6
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston x 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston x 1 damaged
LTJG I.Kasai of BI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
AP Tarushima Maru
Attacking Level Bombers:
5 x A-20B Boston at 20000 feet
[B]An AP with effective AA. Yikes![/B]
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Air attack on TF at 12,58
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3 Zero x 17
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 12
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-17E Fortress x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Kensho Maru
DD Ayanami
AP Kembu Maru
MSW Hagoromo Maru
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 20000 feet
9 x Hudson at 20000 feet
0 x Hudson at 20000 feet
[B]Damaged fighters always welcome.[/B]
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Air attack on TF at 12,58
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3 Zero x 17
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
no losses
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Batavia Maru
AP Tatsuwa Maru
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
[B]More planes for the CAP to intercept……[/B]
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Air attack on TF at 12,58
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3 Zero x 17
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 28
Hudson x 15
Beaufort x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 25
P-40E Warhawk x 26
A-20B Boston x 4
B-25D Mitchell x 5
B-17E Fortress x 6
A-20B Havoc x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 4 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 14 damaged
Hudson x 1 damaged
Beaufort x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 11 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 5 damaged
A-20B Boston x 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston x 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 1 damaged
CPO B.Muto of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 6
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVL Shoho
CV Akagi
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1
CV Shokaku
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x A-20B Havoc at 20000 feet
2 x Beaufort at 200 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston at 20000 feet
5 x B-25D Mitchell at 20000 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
9 x A-20B Havoc at 20000 feet
9 x Hudson at 20000 feet
[B]I hope he keeps his carriers in range.[/B]
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Air attack on TF at 15,57
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 10
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
CA Tone
[B]The Marine SBD pilots get experience the hard way.[/B]
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Sub attack near Gili Gili at 17,42
Japanese Ships
DD Takanami
Allied Ships
SS Grayback
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More to come…
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