ORIGINAL: Mundy
Despite the pain, I am enjoying this.
Kudos for your great attitude! And I hope you can return the pain, and then some, before too long! [:)]
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
ORIGINAL: Mundy
Despite the pain, I am enjoying this.
ORIGINAL: jwolf
ORIGINAL: Mundy
Despite the pain, I am enjoying this.
Kudos for your great attitude! And I hope you can return the pain, and then some, before too long! [:)]
In retrospect I think it was a mistake to leave your units in Perth so long waiting to load up for invasions. Exmouth is still in Japanese hands and is within range of some of the longer ranged Japanese patrol planes. Same thing with your CV fleet. I would imagine that by now CF has sniffed out that you have an invasion force waiting there. You'd be better off keeping all of this outside of patrol plane range and only moving them forward just before the operation is finally ready to go. I think you underestimate the value of keeping your cards hidden in this game.ORIGINAL: Mundy
My stacking limit at Perth is reaching its limit. I think I'm at 75,000/90,000. I'm keeping the main landing force there. If it gets too full, I'll send the weakest ones to Busselton to come in with the follow-on forces in the regular transport TFs. Maybe I'll send them to Geraldton instead for the Oosthaven/Exmouth ops. I have a lot of time to think about it. I'm hoping he's holding the DEI on a budget, but this will be an 800 lb. gorilla when it lands.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gau Island at 133,162, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Taiho
CV Akagi
CA Tone
CA Takao
DD Teruzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
Allied Ships
ARD-1
ACM Barbican
ACM Colonel Niles
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
---------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gau Island at 133,162, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Taiho
CV Akagi
CA Tone
CA Takao
DD Teruzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
Allied Ships
SC-633
SC-707
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
1943-03-12 8/63rd Division is loaded on AK Sakito Maru moving to Rabaul -
1943-03-15 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-18 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-20 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi
I disagree with this analysis. A division moving to Rabaul planning for Nadi is very substantive proof given the situation. Moreover, it is not very difficult to maintain a siege of Fiji for a few weeks. It is very close to other Japanese bases and he already as a foothold. Wouldn't be surprised if CF brings some AE ships to that base he took so he can rearm without going back to Noumea.ORIGINAL: Mundy
There's no indication of troops about to land at Suva or Nadi. I'm starting to wonder if this is some glorified raid at this point.
Intel's feeding me a bit more.
1943-03-12 8/63rd Division is loaded on AK Sakito Maru moving to Rabaul -
1943-03-15 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-18 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi -
1943-03-20 8/63rd Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi
It's a little more credible, if the 63rd is at Rabaul. They may not even be there yet. If so, it's an awfully long time to keep a naval siege going until the troops arrive.
Yup, not surprised. I did warn you that Suva was too forward to be a good support base a few weeks ago.ORIGINAL: Mundy
Vestal, the ARD and other support ships got killed by subs and KB.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kandavu Island at 132,162
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2
A6M5 Zero x 16
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 25
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 10 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1
DD Satsukaze
DD Shikinami
BB Ise
BB Mutsu
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x P-39D Airacobra bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
801 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
582 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
802 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Junyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Hiyo-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Amphibious Assault at Gau Island (133,161)
TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Gau Island, 133,161
Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
1943-03-17 5/36th Division is loaded on AK Sakura Maru moving to Rabaul -
1943-03-21 5/36th Division - - is planning for an attack on Nadi
How so? You mean because the air base will have recovered? Or something else you have in mind?ORIGINAL: Mundy
If Suva's left alone for awhile he may have a fight on his hands.
ORIGINAL: Mundy
No, just potential recovery.
I good part of my aircraft are still active. Just waiting for the base to get fixed.
I have a general question: If you have a minelayer disbanded in port (DM, CM, etc), will it function there in the same manner as an ACM, keeping mines functional?
Submarine attack near Suva at 131,161
Japanese Ships
LSD Shinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-37
Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
LSD Shinshu Maru is sighted by SS S-37
SS S-37 launches 2 torpedoes at LSD Shinshu Maru
---------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kandavu Island at 131,162
Japanese Ships
LSD Shinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Seadragon
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SS Seadragon launches 2 torpedoes
ORIGINAL: Mundy
Looking at Perth, I'm going to need tons of fuel, if anything's going to be staged from there. Shipments have been in the works from the states and Abadan, neither of which is timely.
And how do you plan on protecting that huge base against naval bombarmdent? You saw what it did to your level 9 base in Suva. Why would it be any different in the DEI once the Japanese have reacted to your landing? If you land at Benkoelen you know the KB and the whole navy will arrive before you get to Palembang. An invasion of Sumatra cannot be done halphazardly like Exmouth or Adak which are just isolated bases. I think you are ignoring some of the realities that this battle of Suva is demonstrating about the supremacy of the Japanese right now.ORIGINAL: Mundy
At Pearl, the APAs are ready, and I'm packing up two big transport groups for Australia. (dock space) I'm filling them with lots of planes, engineers, Seabees, USMC paras and anything else I can fit. 4 squadrons of C-47s are enroute also. If I can get a good beachhead set up with a huge base, I can probably drop paras around the DEI, causing more headaches.