RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant

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RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 1:30:47 AM

maikarant

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From: Vienna, Austria
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Sir! Only float planes will be able to start from Lae for the foreseeable future, Sir! :D

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 31

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 4:56:07 AM

Grotius

Posts: 5798
Joined: 10/18/2002
From: The Imperial Palace.
Status: offline

13 May 1942: Indeed, as Maikarant says, Lae spent much of the game with runway and service damage around 50 each. I was disappointed that my Zeroes there didn't outperform your Warhawks and the like.

Today Maikarant sent his B-17s over Rabaul at 35,000 feet on a Naval Attack mission, and by golly if they didn't take a potshot at my sole remaining healthy carrier, Zuikaku. My heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, the Fortresses' bombs fell harmlessly in the ocean.

Meanwhile, I lost yet another sub. Maikarant has sunk about three times as many ships as I've sunk of his. Fortunately, I've sunk two very high-value American ships, so I'll take it. But these submarine losses have been ghastly.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/13/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 56,96

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
DMS Southard
DD Electra

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 49 troops unloading over beach at Woodlark Island, 59,94

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 57,98

Japanese Ships
SS I-4, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage [and sunk]

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
DD Aylwin
DD Monaghan
DD Dewey
DD Phelps
DD Walke
DD Sims

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 55,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G3M Nell x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AO Cuyama

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 14
Beaufort I x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 10000 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 7
Beaufort I x 5
Beaufort V-IX x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 6

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Beaufort I bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 35000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G3M Nell x 9

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 6
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufighter Mk 21: 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Largs Bay
AK Idomeneus

Aircraft Attacking:
1 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

(in reply to maikarant)

Post #: 32

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:00:41 AM

Grotius

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Joined: 10/18/2002
From: The Imperial Palace.
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TOKYO, Japan, May 14, 1942 (UPI) - In a stunning development, Japanese Admiral Grotius and US Admiral Mats have laid down their arms, and the war in the Pacific is over! Grotius achieved a tactical victory "on points" in the Coral Sea, seizing many small bases and sinking two US fleet carriers. But Maikarant achieved a strategic victory, holding and reinforcing the key base at Port Moresby, on Papua New Guinea, not far from Australia.

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 33

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:04:46 AM

Grotius

Posts: 5798
Joined: 10/18/2002
From: The Imperial Palace.
Status: offline

14 May 1942: This, the last day of our 14-day scenario, was an interesting one. Maikarant ordered a group of surface ships to bombard my new base at Woodlark Island. I had stationed a screen of submarines ringing the south side of Woodlark to stave off any seaborne assaults, and Maikarant's bombardment Task Force encountered at least one and possibly two of those subs. We think the encounter with the subs may have slowed the Bombardment TF down enough that it didn't sneak away before daylight, which is what Maikarant had hoped to do.

Unfortunately, my Betties and Nells in Rabaul were just too tired to hit much of anything. I'd given them the day off a day or so earlier but they still had a lot of fatigue. As for CV Zuikaku, I kept her in a TF in Rabaul instead of ordering her out to cover Woodlark, which was a mistake. Maikarant had subs prowling all around Rabaul, and after he lost two CVs to subs earlier in the week, I was jumpy about his subs. Too jumpy, no doubt.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 58,95

Japanese Ships
SS I-122

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
DMS Southard
DD Electra

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 58,95

Japanese Ships
SS I-122, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin
DD Monaghan
DD Dewey
DD Phelps
DD Walke
DD Sims
CA Chicago

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 13
F-5A Lightning x 2
A-20B Boston x 12
B-26B Marauder x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 10000 feet
11 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 10000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 10000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 10000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 32000 feet
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 32000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 59,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G3M Nell x 4
G4M1 Betty x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans
CA Chicago
DD Sims

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 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
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AO Sabine, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 11
Kittyhawk I x 7
Beaufort I x 10
Beaufort V-IX x 13

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort I bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 10000 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 5000 feet
8 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 5000 feet
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 32000 feet
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 32000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 47,100

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Woodlark Island, at 59,94

Allied Ships
DD Monaghan
DD Dewey
DD Phelps
DD Walke
DD Sims
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans
CA Chicago
CA Chester

Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Woodlark Island

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 99 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Woodlark Island base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Empire: 4 destroyed

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 34

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:10:14 AM

Grotius

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And now a couple screenshots for your viewing pleasure. First, the disposition of my forces on 5 May 1942, five days into the scenario. My CVs were hunting for US carriers, while I was forming up Fast Transport TFs from Shortlands to Woodlark etc. Subs were preparing to establish screens for Lunga and Papua New Guinea. I also had Transport TFs ferrying troops and supplies to invade Russell and resupply my other bases in the Solomons.

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 35

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:14:08 AM

Grotius

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Joined: 10/18/2002
From: The Imperial Palace.
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By May 8, we had fought our big carrier battle. He sank CVL Shoho; Shokaku limped to Rabaul with 40 SYS 10 FLT; but Zuikaku was fine. In the meantime, Lex and Yorktown were both on their last legs, making for Australia as indicated here. My subs torpedoed and sank both on the same day.

In the meantime, I delayed my Fast Transport operations for a day or so because I suspected that Maikarant intended to intervene with surface vessels prowling around the Coral Sea, along the path indicated by a green arrow pointing at Woodlark. My Betties and Nells were already getting pretty tired, and Zuikaku was busy escorting Shokaku back to Rabaul. As for Maikarant, he bombed Lae and Buna incessantly, as indicated.

< Message edited by Grotius -- 1/30/2005 3:15:14 AM >

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 36

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:22:28 AM

Grotius

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From: The Imperial Palace.
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And indeed, the next day one or more US surface ships did pay a visit to Woodlark. I think most retired, but one got hung up, perhaps by a US submarine; I'm not sure what happened. It was a DE or some such. Anyway, my Betties sank it but didn't get anything else.

Incidentally, the range circles actually stem from a squadron of damaged Catalinas that somehow became "mine" after I took control of Tassafaronga. I mentioned the bug in the Support forum, and I'm happy to send an e-mail to anyone who wants it.

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 37

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:28:15 AM

Grotius

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From: The Imperial Palace.
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In the east, my recon of Nendo (Ndini) kept showing several BBs and an AP or two formed up in a Task Force there. My garrisons at Lunga and Tulagi were weak, and I had very few surface ships to spare, so I was a bit worried about a counterattack from this direction. I positioned subs as a screen, and I sent a minelayer to place some mines at Tulagi.

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 38

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:39:57 AM

Grotius

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This is the last screenshot I have of the map; it was taken on May 13, the next-to-last day of the scenario. Maikarant was preparing to send his surface ships to Woodlark again. When he did so, one of my subs delayed him, and his TF got stuck at Woodlark even though he had "Retirement Allowed" set. But my Betties and Nells only sank one DD. In any case, my troops seized Woodlark on the last day of the scenario.

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 39

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:44:21 AM

Grotius

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Final intel screen:

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 40

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:49:16 AM

Grotius

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The bottom portion of the "ships sunk" screen, showing the Japanese coral reefs:

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 41

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:52:21 AM

Grotius

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From: The Imperial Palace.
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The top part of the "ships sunk" screen. I only sank five of his ships, but two were big ones. :)

(in reply to Grotius)

Post #: 42

RE: The Coral Sea (Scenario 3): Grotius vs. Maikarant - 1/30/2005 5:59:37 AM

Grotius

Posts: 5798
Joined: 10/18/2002
From: The Imperial Palace.
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Finally, the air losses screen. Note that Maikarant had many more sorties than I did. Does the US player usually have more? Does it just stem from the greater number of planes in the US arsenal? Or was I more conservative with my aviators? I do rest frequently, stand down for bad weather or poor morale, etc.