gladiatt
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Joined: 4/10/2008
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SOPAC 25th April - 30th april 1943
Confusing situation.
Take also a look at the maps for 24th and 25th april on previous page.
The japs have 3 CV TF surrounding New Britain, attriting my ships, and maybe trying to lure my CV Fleet in battle in range of Bettys (from Truck or Guadalcanal).
In the same time, i scattered my air assets, trying to prevent the building of new bases or to keep Rabaul closed, while hopping for my heavy bombers to attack the japs CV wich are usually in range (but this hope will fail in april).
1 - KEEPING RABAUL AND KAVIENG CLOSED
On 25th april , 190 4E from Port Moresby knock Rabaul airfield, destroying 30 japs planes on ground and scoring 200+ hits on runway.
On 26th april, 130 4E destroy 34 more planes on ground, keeping the airfield size 8 at 100% damaged.
- Kavieng, same day, is bombed by 6 australians Liberators VI scoring 2 hits on airbase.
On 27th, Rabaul is bombed by 60 B-24. The attacking squadrons are rotating to try to keep fatigue moderate.
Seing that my SBD in Gasmata won't have any chance to hit ships in range, i set them on airfield attack, hitting Kavieng.
Sadly, in the same time, no attack by my heavy bombers against japs ships in range, both north and south of Port Moresby.
28th april, Rabaul is bombed by 18 B-24 (others are lost in clouds). Kavieng is hit by 31 SBD, the level of damage or Kavieng raise slowly.
29th april, Rabaul is back at 70%damages (damned, that's quick...). So 56 4E are sent to bomb the place, destroying 2 planes on ground and raising damages level to 85%.
Kavieng is also bombed by 31 SBD, raising damages level to 30%.
2 - SOUTH PART : LOST OPPORTUNITY
25th april, 42 zeros and 10 Helens from Rabaul (thus explaining the numerous raids of my bombers on this base) try to attack my ships in Gasmata. 19 Kittyhawk of 77th RAAF squadron (Kittyhawk I) and 11 others fighters defend the ships.
3 allied fighters are shot for 13 zeros. FLT Waters and FLT Underwood of 77th RAAF sq both reach 23 kills, being equal Ace of Australians Air Force. An allied AK is left burning.
27th april, at Munda , jap SS I-17 hit a mine and sink.
Gasmata is under attack by 27 zeros and 24 Vals facing a CAP of 23 planes. 9 zeros are shot for 1 Corsair, 1 Kittyhawk and 4 obsolete Brewsters. 2 AK are hits badly ( both to sink later).
South of Gasmata, 16 P-38 and 9 dutch B-25J attack a jap TF with a CAP of 28 zeros.
2 zeros are downed for 1 Lightning and 2 Mitchells, for no results;
Same day, Gili Gili is under attack from another jap TF. 16 zeros and 18 Kates face a CAP of 15 Boomerangs.
1 Boomerang is lost to 4 zeros and 3 Kates, but 2 MSW are torpedoed (and will sink in the next days).
At the end of the day, a last attack on Gasmata is launched by 21 Vals without escort. 16 are shot.
28th april, at Gili Gili at night, a TF of 7 japs DD surprise the last 3 MSW cleaning the port. ALL 3 ships are sunk, and the raiders escape without any retaliation  .
Munda is bombed by 25 B-17, scoring 1 hit on port ( trying to slow any building of an airfield, level 0 now).
South of Gasmata, 8 B-25J alone attack a jap TF covered by....18 Rufe and 80 Zeros  .
All Mitchells are destroyed....but 5 zeros are downed also  .
In the afternoon another raid of only 2 B-25 with 11 P-38 and 12 F4U ace the CAP (reduced to 18 Rufe and 68 zeros).
3 Corsairs and 5 P-38 are shot down, but no B-25 is lost. 2 Rufe and 10 zeros are destroyed.
CV Akagi escape unharmed
29th april, in the night , SS Tinosa, one fo several sub hunting the japs CV, shoot at a DD, but the torpedo is a dud .
At Tulagi, DD Oyashio hit a mine (no sign of sinking).
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YEAHHH - 
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), sink PT 150 and damage 2 others PT. 
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