John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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March 28, 1943 Australia There are times that I get totally fed up with being on the defense WAITING on the next Allied move. The Japanese Fleet has been highly inactive for the last 3-5 months. At first it was due to a nasty fuel shortage that kept the fleet in port for nearly six weeks. Only had enough fuel to make one sortie and NOTHING else. I was really nervous that my noble opponent might sense this and get frisky. Luckily--this did not happen. Once fuel started flowing much more efficiently, the Kaigun returned to the Home Islands for badly needed routine repairs and--equally important--upgrades in AA and radar. As they did got needed R&R, the fuel kept right on flowing allowing for the creation of a serious fuel reserve at several locations an in the AOs. During these months, the Allied counter-offensive gained steam in NE Australia. The move here was always intended to be a diversion away from other areas of the Empire and not a 'stand-and-die' scenario. While the enemy has managed to pin and/or destroy several Japanese IDs, the vast bulk have moved to new locations or are refitting at their actual 'stand-and-die' locations. As the Allies moved farther and farther north in NE Australia, opportunity could be sensed. As quietly as possible, the Kaigun slipped its moorings at Kwajalein and headed south. Thankfully, no damned Allied SS caught the move! We proceeded into the Coral Sea using Tagula as a shield and waited for a chance to lunge. The 'go' order was sent two days ago. March 27, 1943 The 27th saw the TFs move only 11 of 14 possible hexes and were too far out of range to do anything. Highly frustrating. Surprise was lost. What to do? Answer: Advance SW towards Brisbane. split the carrier TFs, and hit shipping as well as ports shipping might be hiding in. March 28, 1943 The move works and the carriers go into launch operations: Morning Strikes 18 Zero 12 Judy sink an AK 27 Zero 13 Judy sink an an AM and 2 AKL 24 Zero 13 Judy sink an AK Afternoon Port Strikes Townsville--31 Zero 46 DB 34 TB vs 15 Spitfires--Sink an AP and 3 AK Bowen--8 Zero, 54 DB, 18 TB sink 2 AM Rockhampton--64 Zero, 44 DB, 18 TB sink an AK and damage an AE Bundaberg--17 Zero, 25 DB, 75 TB--sink 3 AKL, an AM, and damage an AK and 3 AKL Counter Strikes All Allied counter-attacks are against the CTF closet to Townsville. The CAP begins at 101 Fighters (A6M2 and Rex) and they are pressed by strikes of 12 F4F 11 Beaufort, 6 B-26, 4 F 4 Beaufort, and 6 Beaufort. The strikes are crushed with only a single bomber starting to make a bomb run prior to AA destroying it. All-in-all a very good day with very minimal losses...
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< Message edited by John 3rd -- 11/5/2021 6:43:46 PM >
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