RE: Eagle vs Sun: Death in the Coral Sea--Japanese Version

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> After Action Reports >> RE: Eagle vs Sun: Death in the Coral Sea--Japanese Version

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RE: Eagle vs Sun: Death in the Coral Sea--Japanese Ver... - 10/18/2005 7:46:38 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline

Three days worth of Combat logs follow:

July 10, 1942 Clear
No SS Activity

Air
8Z and 30B hit Lea-Lea and cause 79 Cas

Two groups of 3 B-17 hit PM Invasion Fleet: 1AK hit and MSW nailed by 3Bombs.

Ground
Bombard PM only to find a Base Force present! Will take the Port tomorrow.

Immediately redirect my two Transport TF from landing at PM and send them towards Efate.

Both sides attack at Lea-Lea: Casualties end up at 196 Jap for 390 Aussies

Navy
Spot a Fast TF moving in towards L-L or PM. My BB TF will be at PM next round. Detach from the Invasion TF 2DD to cover L-L.

Detach 4CV from Shortlands to do a sweep of the Aussie coast.

TK sinks at Rabaul from earlier damage.

July 11, 1942 Partly Cloudy

I-22 scores 2TT into SC637 and sinks it north of Noumea.

Air
No major aerial activity.

Ground
Attack at Lea-Lea and lose 2 Jap for 98 Aussies

CAPTURE PM! I lose 93 Jap for 3464 POWs!

Navy
Surface fight at Lea Lea--2 Jap DD vs. NINE US DD--whoops! Dan must be trying to evac those troops. Lose BOTH DD and do nothing to the enemy....hmmmmm

July 12, 1942

No Sub action

Air
7Z and 24B hit Kanga Force at Lea Lea and do 68 Cas

Ground
Kanga Force and 1 Aussie Brigade surrender at Lea Lea for 2879 POWs!

Over 6,000 prisoners in 2 days is not bad. Add that to the Aussie Brigade I destroyed at GG earlier int he campaign and I have accounted for more then a division of infantry. I imagine Aussie PM Curtain (I think that was his name) is NOT happy...

Navy
I clear out the mines at GG and have a ML get damaged hitting one...

(in reply to John III)

Post #: 31

RE: Eagle vs Sun: Death in the Coral Sea--Japanese Ver... - 10/26/2005 7:50:40 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline

I have been a bad boy and not updated my AAR for a few days. Dan and I have played July 14-26, 1942 since the weekend and I will attempt to run it all here:

July 14, 1942 Thunderstorms

I-20 SW of Noumea spots a TF and fails in a TT attack.

An Air Raid from Noumea hits 2AP at Luganville.

July 15, 1942 Overcast

Lots of Allied Bombing attacks at Luganville, Liekar, Gili-Gili, and PM. No REAL damage.

My Invasion Force for Efate is beginning its approach run. Have an escort TF with it and Carriers providing cover. I imagine that I am about to stir up a Hornet's Nest!

July 16, 1942 Clear

In a surprise raid on Noumea, I hit and sink a PG and TK with a TF comprising 5CA, 3CL, 12DD.

Dan's Bombers concentrate of my ships in Luganville today and do some real damage. About 60 bombers fly in both the morning and afternoon sessions. They damage 7AP and 3APD. I lose an APD and AP from these attacks.

I will FINALLY have a Base Force at Luganville soon so I can have some CAP. It was a bad oversight of mine to not include this when I took the Island. I am paying for it now...

July 17, 1942 Thunderstorms
Send my Surface TF back toward Noumea for another raid.

I switched some Carrier Fighters to CAP for Luganville yesterday and 42F meet a B-17 raid. The bombers do little damage (2 AP minorly hit).

I now have a CTF SW of New Caledonia and one North of Efate providing cover.

July 18, 1942 Rainy
My Noumea STF gets soem attention from Noumea bombers but takes no damage.

45 and then 51 Bombers hit the area around Luganville and damage 3 AP--2 of them sink.

Will be at Efate tomorrow. Have BB Bombardment group of 4BB swinging in to cause some chaos!

July 19, 1942 Overcast
DD Worden hits mine from a recently sown field at Noumea.

SURFACE FIGHT at Efate! Dan throws a nicely balanced TF of 5CA, 3CL, and 10DD against what he thinks is my Invasion Force. He must have had a collective Heart attack when he comes up against 4BB, 1CL, and 4DD! In a massive 4 gunnery round battle, I sink CA's Northhampton and Salt Lake City and heavily damage 2 more CA and 1CL!

I lose all 4DD but with my CTF nearby, I will pick-off some cripples during the day. Kirishima is badly damaged during the fight and I hope she can make it to Luganville. All other BB in good shape--got to LOVE armor and crappy American TTs!

In a SECOND Surface Fight at Noumea, my 4CA and 5DD cause some chaos of their own. They sink 1PG and 4SC. 3 more SC are damaged. Not much but it is something!

In the crazy day that follows, there is a lot of give and take!
Dan's Bombers strike in little packets everywhere. He damages an AP and puts 2 bombs into Kirishima--They don't cause much damage but it is worrisome.

My STUPID CTF south of Noumea is moving North to support and invasion and it decides launch and attack against Noumea ships. SUICIDE! 15Z, 20V, and 15K fly against 94W and 15 P-400! I lose 3Z, 15V, and 13K--I HATE THIS GAME! Where is the WitP control to limit long-range strikes???? I do manage to shoot down 7W--NEAT!

On the OTHER hand, my other CTF hits the criplles from the earlier fight and SINK Pensacola and San Fransisco! 19Z, 58V, and 61K are a bit of overkill...I lose 1K.

In the afternoon, 61B hit my Efate Invasion Force and slightly damage 2CA and a CL.

I lose an AP to earlier damage.

4 Heavy Cruisers in ONE day is GOOD work!

July 20, 1942 Overcast
I-21 sinks DD Monssen--YEA!

2AP and CA Atago Hits a mine at Efate.

Kirishima is hit again by B-17s (DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE B-17 SUBJECT!) with 3 bombs.

In YET another Futile strike at Noumea----5V and 11K are shot down. Order all planes to SIT!

I choose to Sweep Noumea with the other CTF and 41Z engage 49W and 9 P-400. I lose 8Z and shoot down 5W and 2 P-400. Hmmmmmm...

Lose an AP due to earlier damage.

An SC sinks of his from yesterday's fighting.

July 21, 1942 Clear
Two of my AP hit mines at Efate. My MSW cannot sweep 1,000,000+ mines!

PM is bombarded by a CA--DD TF from Brisbane, Australia. No damage.

BB Kirishima SINKS at Luanville! Damn...that sort of balances the 4CA from earlier.

Lose 2AP to earlier damage.

CAPTURE Efate.

July 22, 1942 Thunderstorms
No strikes flown by either of us. I think a rest is in order...

Re-Organise AP at Efate and send most of them north out of the battlezone. Leave the remainder and a small STF to guard them.

Carriers headed for home at Shortlands.

Been seeing a lot of ship activity near Brisbane so I dispatch Mutsu/Nagato to PM to, hopefully, lay a trap for a raiding TF.

July 23, 1942 Overcast
DAMN! I get caught by surprise by Dan. He actually sorties his two remaining CVs and hits my Efate units. It is painful to watch. He must have surmised that I would move my CVs away and head for home. They are out-of-position.

In a series of strikes, his CV put 2CA into sinking condition. He loses 13 planes and lose 4 Zeros trying to provide cover.

2AP sink during this as well.

July 24, 1942 Partly Cloudy
PM is bombarded AGAIN! I lose 353 Casualties... If he tries this again, Mutsu and Nagato will be ready!

One of my two crippled CAs (Takao) takes 3 bombs from B-17s (

BEST DAMNED ANTI-SHIP PLANES THE ALLIES HAVE!!!---Crap...)

Another AP takes 2Bombs from B-17s...

His CVs move back to Noumea after their little hit-and-run.

July 25, 1942 Clear
My STF with Mutsu/Nagato successfully reach PM and disband before they can be sighted. I will RELY on Recon to spot them coming and then form the TF for a little surprise.

Two groups of B-17s hit 2AP and CL Yura...

July 26, 1942 Partly Cloudy
Allied PG hits a mine at Noumea

CA Myoko sinks...

His CVs come out a little. They are halfway between Noumea and Efate. Luckily I have sent all my AP away from Efate since they are done unloading.

11W, 65D, and 28A hit Efate and do 164 Cas.

SUMMATION
It has occurred to me that the mest strategy right now might be to go for NE Australia. He has concentrated the vast majority of his aircraft and ships at Noumea. If I can lift my main Infantry Forces at Luganville and Efate, move them to Lunga, and then jooin them with my PM troops, I bet I could do some REAL damage and FORCE him to deploy his CVs towards Australia where I might be able to sink them.

Just idle thinking...

(in reply to John 3rd)

Post #: 32

RE: Eagle vs Sun: Death in the Coral Sea--Japanese Ver... - 10/27/2005 7:38:37 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline

Combat Report

July 27, 1942

SS
Ro-34 misses an SC

Air
52B from Noumea attack Luganville and have to fight their way through 52Z. For the loss of 1Z, 5 are shot down and 15 are damaged. They attack the port.

9 B-17 also hit the same. Five of them are damaged. UNLIKE WitP, it appears that Zeros cannot shoot down B-17s...

A strike from CVs Hornet and Wasp comes in with 39W and 47SBD. My Cap loses 3Z for 12W and 3D. I'll take 5-1 ANY day. They hit 2TK and a PG in port.

A small strike of 4W and 8SBD arrive in the afternoon and 2W and 1SBD are shot down. They hit a PC with 3Bombs

Efate gets hits in the afternoon by 8W, 72SBD, 30Dev. They do 255 Cas and have about 10 planes damaged.

At the end of the day, I lose 2PC/G and 1AP.

For losing 4Z today, I shot down 5 2-E Bombers, 14W, and 4SBD. He is bleeding his CTF planes for limited returns. I have no issue with this. Dispatch nearly everything from Luganville Harbor to Shortlands or Tulagi. If he wants to butt his head up against 4 Daitai of Zeros everyday for a while, that is OK.

My CVs are resting and picking up planes as well as repairing operational damage.

I spot a Surface TF approaching PM! Form my BB Group from PM and hope to spring a NASTY surprise on Dan! It might be an ugly slugfest. I have 3 Daitai of Nells/Bettys WAITING to polish off cripples!

News on that tomorrow....

(in reply to John 3rd)

Post #: 33

2nd Battle of the Coral Sea! - 11/22/2005 10:19:49 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline

I have lagged behind in my AAR while MAJOR things have happened.

Dan and I are on an operational pause due to strange things happening with the game loading and emailing to him and back to me. See posting in bugs area.

Dan and I have reached mid-August and have had another massive carrier battle! I don't want to write out the events of three weeks worth of turns day-by-day so I will do a synopsis with a little specific detail around the CV battle.

The amount of LBA at Noumea is staggering right now! His bombers have completely shutdown my AFs on Efate and Luganville. While I expected this to happened eventually, I did not expect it in EARLY August! I guess it is the benefit of a 'bunker defense' he went into after I sunk both Lexington and Yorktown at the start of the game. He has taken little casualties within his land or air forces because of the rapid pullout.

As the situation has worsened on Luganville, Dan began regular ship bombardments of the two bases. This is what precipitated the Carrier engagement. I decided to use 5 CVs (Akagi, Kaga, Junyo, Ryuho, and Soryu) under Yamaguchi's command. Trying to gain some factor of surprise, I sent Zuiikaku and Zuiho to raid along the Aussie coast. The Strike Force went far to the North above Luganville and then headed down the eastern edge.

Sure enough, I caught a bombardment TF that hung around Luganville. Recon also detected his CVs near Noumea. My limited strikes (flown at extreme range) managed to damage a number of CL and DD. Thinking he would not engage my forces, I swung them farther south towards Efate. I was hoping to pick off stragglers from the earlier attack.

To my surprise, he moved north with 4 CV!

I panicked, thinking my butt was about to get whipped, but came out is OK shape! No less then six strikes came in on my CVs that morning. He hit Ryuho, Junyo, Kaga, and Akagi. No TTs---just a few 1000lbers on each deck. His Air Groups suffered nearly 70 shot down. The Japanese counterattack came in on three good-sized waves. The first attack of 30Z, 60V, and 51K creamed Hornet and Wasp! They additionally hit 2CA, 1 CLAA, and 1 DD. My plane casualties were astonishingly lite at about 20.

The afternoon saw Kaga and Soryu hit while I damaged Enterprise, Saratoga and a DD. This conclued the day.

Over the next couple of days, the cripples limped away and others sank. I lost Ryuho and Soryu and 3DD. He lost Wasp, Enterprise, CA Chester, CLAA San Diego, and a DD. Hornet is presumed sunk but I don't count on anything with American damage control! My cripple is Akagi who is slowly sinking while on its way to Tulagi.

If Akagi stays afloat, then this another HUGE naval victory. I can repair my damaged decks and still have about 8 CVs available. He only has Saratoga, perhaps Hornet in about six months, and then his 1943 reinforcements.

Another major set of surface fights occurred at the same time near the eastern coast of Australia. In a crazy set of surface brawls, I have lost CAs Aoba and Maya and managed to sink his CAs Portland and New Orleans plus at least 1DD. I damaged a significant number of small ships here.

I feel that the western flank with Australia no longer has a surface threat. Noumea is another matter. He doesn't have to many CAs or CLs operational. I have sunk 9CA and 3CL. WOW! His airpower, on the other hand, is crushing though. We shall have to see about things.

Only other major note is that Luganville had about 150 planes in it from my damaged/sunk CVs and trapped Daitais. The good news is that his LBA shifted to ship hunting during the CV Battle and I was JUST BARELY able to get my AF operational enough to pull about 75 planes out. That certainly helps some. Of course, there are about an equal number still there...

I have initiated Fast TF runs to Luganville to keep it supplied. I want to lift off the 2nd ID from Efate but it is trapped there. May have to do that by Fast TF runs as well.

As we try to get the game running, that is the state-of-the-state!

(in reply to John 3rd)

Post #: 34

RE: Eagle vs Sun: Death in the Coral Sea--Japanese Ver... - 11/30/2005 11:41:36 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline

Dan and I have played out five turns since my update and things have been wild-and-wooly!

August 16, 1942

Efate/Luganville Raided by LBA--both bases are completely shut down with no hope of anything.

Form a large Fast TF to lift off one of the five regiments in Efate to shift back to Guadalcanal. I have the entire 2nd Division, plus a brigade, trapped there and need to get them out...

Doesn't look like Akagi is going to make it. She is 1 Hex from Lunga (for docking) and at 91 Flot.

August 17, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Raid on Luganville/Efate

A small raid over Guadalcanal announces that life there will not be the same.

Navy
Spot what appears to be an invasion convoy approaching Luganville! Dan cannot expect to cover this convoy with LB Fighters and he has no CVs! What can he be thinking? I might not be able to stop the landings but I can CRIPPLE his remaining surface units...OK...

Form up 3 CV with a lite escort of 3DD to attack them from north of Luganville.

Form up a serious attack force of 2BB, 2CL, and 10DD to hit the surface group.

Change my Fast Transport Force into an attack force--2CA, 2CL, 14DD will hit tomorrow.

Transfer four Daitai of Betty/Nells to Lunga--PROBLEM--Lunga is still size 3 so I cannot carry TT! Grrrrr...

Speaking of Grrrrrr, Akagi sinks upon reaching port at Lunga. DAMMIT!

FINAL SCORE from 2nd Battle of the Coral Sea: Japanese lose few planes, 2CV, and a CVL. The Americans lose 2CV for sure and perhaps a third. Heavy plane losses as well. The max number of CVs Dan has operational is ONE.

The loss of Akagi hurts but it was still a victory. Instead of decisive, I would now list it as a marginal victory. Still have 7 CV in Theatre with more in Japan.

BACK TO THE ACTION

August 18, 1942

SS No attacks

Air
Normal Luganville/Efate Raids by Dan

Betty/Nell attack upon shipping at Luganville--damage 3AP/AK.

Ground
Enemy landing at Luganville--Order troops to make a shock attack and try to force him into the sea. Only have one Regiment there and support troops. Won't be easy to hold...

Naval
My mines at Luganville damage 2DD, 2AP, and sink SC 640.

Naval Battle! My 2CA, 2CL, 14DD fight TWO seperate TFs of 1CA, 1CLAA, 16DD and 1CA, 3CL, and 14DD. My fine Admiral gets SURPRISE BOTH times and launches Long Lances! In the following surface action, the Japanese do pretty well. I lose nothing but seriously damage 1CA, 1CL, and 7DD. Sink 1DD and damage a BUNCH of others. Unfortunately, I don't get to the Transports...

August 19, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
Send my Betty/Nells to hit the ground units to try to disrupt them. Cause 47 Cas...

Noumea LBA goes after 2DD that were crippled from the action. 56 and then 45 Bombers paste them and sink them. Lose DD--Ariake and Uzuki. These ships draw attacks so other can survive. A worthwhile sacrifice...

Ground
My shock attack fails horribly and he counter-attacks with a shock attack of his own. His works and I am forced to Liekar. Losses are 2299 Jap for 599 US.

Naval
CVs will be there tomorrow and I PUNNISH Dan's shipping. My BB Group should hit as well.

Spot more ships approaching Efate--I would welcome an invasion there!

Mines damage an AP and sink SC641.

August 20, 1942

SS I have 8 SS approaching the battlezone.

Air
My LBA from Lunga hit and damage an 2AP, 2AK, an APD, a SC, 4DD, and a DMS. Pretty nice for just bombs.

If Dan tries to move planes into Luganville, I have to keep the AF down so I change my LBA to attack the base. CANNOT let him get the Airfield running.

Ground
He starts landing at Efate. COOL! Order an attack...

Navy
The Kido Butai Strikes! My CVs nail any and all shipping around Luganville. For the loss of 1 Val and 8 Kates, I hit 5CL and 18DD

Only 3 imediately sink but I am sure others shall follow.
Vector the CVs a little closer to Luganville. Got to be careful of Noumea LBA.

August 21, 1942

SS Nothing

Air
I am startled when my Betty Raid of 41 planes encounter 32 Wildcats!

How could the AF be operational SO fast? I lose 7 planes and they paste the AF with 66 Cas.

Guess that is enough since no planes fly out of there for the rest of the day.

Ground
I was right! Where I lose Luganville easily, I drive the American troops into the sea at Efate! For 147 Japanese, the entire American force has to SURRENDER!!!

6,565 US Troops become POWs! BANZAI!!

Navy
Surface Battle! My BB TF attack: 2BB, 3CA, 1CL, 7DD attack 2CL and 9DD. I take hardly any hits and inflict a TON on the American forces.

KB Continues the Bloodbath by attacking retreating survivors. Five raids go in through the day. I lose 3 Val and 3 Kates for the day. They hit a total of 13AP, 8AK, 2CL (Honolulu takes 3TT), 1DD, and an SC.

At the end of the day, a DD, an SC, and a AK sink.

There must be a huge number of ships in sinking condition!

Order CVs for one more raid tomorrow and then head for home...

At the rate that Dan has taken hits and sinkings, he must be in TERRIBLE shape. Though I have lost Luganville and have Efate isolated, I KNOW the US Navy is crippled.

BRING IT ON!

(in reply to John 3rd)

Post #: 35