Bombur
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-Japanese plan: Two tasks forces were ordered to bombard PM at night. They were scheduled to arrive at the same day. For the first time since the big bombardment with BB´s (two months ago, I think), heavy cruisers were commited to a mission bombadment against PM.
-The situation changes: As the Japanese ships approached undetected from PM, reports arrived about an ASW attack near PM. An Emily also reported a TF with transports and cruisers in PM harbour. Admiral Goto discarded the possibility of heavy naval units in PM (they won´t be fool to get in range of our Betties, right?) and ordered the mission to proceed. In Rabaul, all Betties were loaded with torpedoes for an attack against PM in the following day.
The outcome:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/24/42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hammann, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Walke, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Gridley
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
-As Goto expected, opposition consisted in light surface units. The battle didn´t have a good start for Japan, as the enemy hit our cruisers with 6in guns before we could hit then, but our Long Lance torpedoes turned the tide
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 6 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 2
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Urakaze, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Walke, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Gridley
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
-The battle continues and the remains of the enemy TF are destroyed
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Atago
CL Kinu
CL Abukuma, on fire
DD Urakaze, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Gridley, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
-An entire enemy TF is decimated, things are going well
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Shell hits 46, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tokitsukaze
Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Gwin, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Buchanan
DD Morris
DD Bagley
DD Blue
DD Helm
DD Mugford
AP Esperance Bay
AP Largs Bay, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Moreton Bay
AP Kanimba, heavy damage
AP Manoora
AP Manunda
AP Ormiston
AP Orungal
AP Wanganella
AP Westralia
Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
-As the light TF approached what seemed to be a group of transports, a nasty surprise....the transports were being protected by cruisers. Our superior sailors and the formidable Long Lance torpedo again saved us from defeat. One enemy DD is sunk and a CA is heavily damaged (she sank in the following day), but the superior enemy firepower resulted in one DD and one CL sunk.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 4
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT PT-66
PT PT-67
PT PT-68
PT PT-74
PT PT-75
PT PT-77
PT PT-78
PT PT-80
PT PT-81
-As the DD´s attempted to disengage, PT´s came from the darkness and sink another 2 DD´s
-Bombardment order is cancelled and ships started to move away from PM
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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 9
A-20B Boston x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 9
Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
2 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
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Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 33
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 53,92
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
Beaufort V-IX x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 27
A-20B Boston x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Arashi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
-18 Betties failed to find one of the enemy TF´s 60 miles South from PM. A crippled DD was sunk by enemy aircraft. Meanwhile, fires from multiple hits got out of control in the Salt Lake City. A Photo from one of our Emilies shows the ship burning furiously and listing 15 degrees. The loss of the ship was confirmed in the following day.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/25/42
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Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 22
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 4 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 6 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Natori
CL Jintsu
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 19000 feet
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 19000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 19000 feet
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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 14
Beaufort V-IX x 15
A-20B Boston x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 12
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
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Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 30
No Allied losses
Runway hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
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-Finally the Japanese plan works, our Betties attack the enemy ships in a well coordinated attack, but it would have been better if they didn´t locate the target....
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
G3M Nell x 29
G4M1 Betty x 53
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 55
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 26 destroyed, 7 damaged
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 21 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 35 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 19 destroyed, 17 damaged
-Tired by the long flight and flying at low speeds and altitude, the Zeroes were bounced by the enemy P-39´s. The air combat ended in a draw and only two bombers were lost to enemy fighters. But such a draw is always a defeat when you lose 30 of your best pilots.
Allied Ships
AP Manoora, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chicago
DD Helm
CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Manunda
DD Mugford
DD Buchanan
AP Ormiston, Torpedo hits 1
AP Largs Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
-As you can see, the attack results were mediocre, it´s possible that Hobart won´t be able to survive. In the whole action she took no less than three torpedos, but a light cruiser isn´t worth the life of 40 excellent pilots.
-The aftermath:
-I commited a serious mistake by sending relatively weak forces and by questioning the composition of transportation group. The overall results of the naval battle seem to be a Japanese victory. The enemy lost 1 CL, 1 CA and 5 DD, while Japan lost 1 CL and 5 DD. It´s possible that another enemy CL will be lost. The enemy CL´s are also bigger ships then ours, so a CL for a CL is worth more points, however, Japan simply cannot afford to lose 5 DD´s in a single engagement (this is half the losses suffered in Guadalcanal). Furthermore, the loss of 40 planes and her crews is much more valuable than an old CA that can be easily replaced.
I would say it´s a tatical stalemate and a big aliied strategic victory.
< Message edited by Bombur -- 4/19/2006 5:16:14 AM >
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