Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walker (J) DBB-B Scen 28

[Walker84]

Mar 9, 1943

Taberfane recaptured!

During the night phase, USS Growler launches 4 torpedoes at CA Atago but misses -that's 4 fewer silverfish to threaten my TFs for now. Meanwhile 458 troops are rescued as Takatiho Maru, a 17-vp xAP strafed by Beaufighters yesterday, sinks in Taberfane harbour.

The ground combat result when it comes is fairly satisfying...

Ground combat at Taberfane (82,117)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9128 troops, 141 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 397

Defending force 3496 troops, 83 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Japanese adjusted assault: 379

Allied adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 75 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Taberfane !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
654 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1742 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 72 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 63 (54 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating towards Dobo.

Assaulting units:
48th Division
16th Engineer Regiment
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
53rd Aus Lt AA Regiment
8th USN Special Construction Battalion

Dobo should be recaptured in a matter of days leaving the Allied remnants to wither in the jungle. The job now is to repair the airfield quickly and put up proper CAP. Allied transports have been spotted loading at Townsville so Imperial forces have been instructed to remain vigilant on all fronts.

[Lowpe]

Good job at Taberfane! +1

Nice seeing the Oscar IIb fighting. Armor helps alot.

What is the armada at Townsville up to you think?

[jwolf]

Congrats on the counter-invasion. But now I wonder if there will be a counter-counter-invasion, and where will it all end? [:D]

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Good job at Taberfane! +1

Nice seeing the Oscar IIb fighting. Armor helps alot.

What is the armada at Townsville up to you think?

Thanks!

At Townsville today I am seeing two 10-ship convoys with xAPs and APDs, plus various supporting TFs. Apbarog has generally been happy to chip away at the periphery of my defence cordon. Taberfane was an uncharacteristically aggressive move which put those units landed in a noose, effectively. I think to expand this and break out properly he needs to take Darwin, maybe Port Moresby and Buna. All of these bases are defended in divisional size but all are takeable if he brings enough strength. An Allied armoured unit is creeping up the coast towards Buna already, and Milne Bay is built up nicely now so I know what I would do in his position. Of course, he may have other plans entirely.

Another observation is that the Aussie base at Gove, SE of Darwin is now size 1 and already appears to have 14,000 troops in residence which will also increase Allied options in this theatre.

However there is no sign of Allied carriers yet. Once I see them I will know which way Apbarog is headed as he always likes to bring a lot of friends to the party[:D].

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Congrats on the counter-invasion. But now I wonder if there will be a counter-counter-invasion, and where will it all end? [:D]

Thanks! There could well be a counter-invasion but I will be sure to leave a decent garrison this time. If Apbarog had seriously wanted to hold Taberfane I would have expected him to keep his carriers around longer until the airfields were built up, so I'm not sure what the game was. Perhaps he didn't expect that I could react so quickly, or could it even be a feint to draw my forces in - and away from some other important target? I guess I may find out sooner rather than later[8|].

[Walker84]

Mar 10-11, 1943


Taberfane and Dobo

Allied subs continue to take potshots at my TFs without hitting anything as the Dobo invasion force lands on the afternoon of the 10th. Quite a few disablements getting ashore, and the bulk of my troops land on the 11th.

Ground combat at Dobo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3340 troops, 48 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 102

Defending force 7758 troops, 53 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 291

Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
VII US Fighter Cmnd - seems plans were afoot to turn Dobo into a key base
25th USN Special Construction Battalion

Defending units:
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Div /6 The 8th division was bought out from Korea and IIRC was 35% prep'd for this landing.

The Beaufighters, now based at Gove it appears, try to repeat their success against my shipping on the 11th flying but I have CAP in place and most are shot down...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Dobo at 83,116

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3a Zero x 4
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 4 destroyed (9 according to the air losses intel screen)

Japanese Ships
AK Sasako Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance

I am keeping surface assets close by in case Apbarog decides to run any SCTFs up from Merauke to intervene with my landings but, hopefully, both bases will be secured and fully functioning in a matter of days.

Air war over Papua

On March 10, the Allies launch a massive bombing effort against Buna, with diversionary attacks at Port Moresby. Wave after wave of B-17s and B-24s wear down my fighters which respond from Lae as well as Buna but plenty of bombers are lost too. Some unescorted B-26s are also shot down over Port Moresby. The final Allied wave comprises 22 x P-40K Warhawks, by which time I have hardly any fighters in the air. What is interesting is that intel shows 150+ fighters at Milne Bay so I wonder why Apbarog didn't use more in support of the bombers.

On March 11 the fighters sweep Lae and the new F4U-1 Corsair is deployed for the first time, along with P-38s. No doubt this show of force was intended to crush the tired Japanese pilots but in fact the US pilots are held to a draw, partly because the sweeps arrive in smaller packets and can be dealt with piecemeal. It's gratifying to see 10 - 12 Corsairs reported downed in their first action against my crack army and navy pilots.

Here are the losses reported over the past two days:

[Walker84]

Air losses

First table shows losses on Mar 10, followed by Mar 11

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Congrats on the counter-invasion. But now I wonder if there will be a counter-counter-invasion, and where will it all end? [:D]

Well if this is an axis of advance eventually the Allies will have to retake these bases .. the key is the delay,
and more so the expenditure of resources to reestablish these bases ...

As an AFB .. I do not like the DEI axis as a main thrust for various reasons, although it makes a good side show.
Reason #1 is the games mechanics as far as how air units operate. Interlocking bases with fighter aircraft plays
into the IJ's strengths while isolating an atoll from multiple Allied bases plays into leveraging game mechanics
into the Allies favor. Pick a weak spot that cannot be supported -- don't stick your head into the lion's mouth [8D]

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

As an AFB .. I do not like the DEI axis as a main thrust for various reasons, although it makes a good side show.
Reason #1 is the games mechanics as far as how air units operate. Interlocking bases with fighter aircraft plays
into the IJ's strengths while isolating an atoll from multiple Allied bases plays into leveraging game mechanics
into the Allies favor. Pick a weak spot that cannot be supported -- don't stick your head into the lion's mouth [8D]

Well, a big Allied operation is now on, seemingly, and - judging by the position of the naval TFs - Apbarog is planning on invading Papua New Guinea further, rather than heading back into the DEI for now. I'll post a map at the end.


Mar 12, 1943

In the early hours on the morning of March 12, Japanese sub commanders report big movements south of Milne Bay. SS I-31 spots a TF which includes the BB Prince of Wales. SS I-18
then gets sightings of some LSTs being escorted. Both subs are spotted by escorts and have to dive deep.

SS I-18 spots an opportunity and launches 6 torpedoes at DD Gwin escorting BB Royal Sovereign but misses and takes a hit. Soon afterwards, I-18 is sighted again and dives. Meanwhile, still south of Milne Bay, SS I-31 is sighted by destroyers escorting BB Washington and takes just 3 hits by diving deep.

Further west, an ASW attack near Timoeka as SS I-19 takes 9 hits from a TF comprising DD Fletcher, DD Radford, DD O'Bannon.

The Fletcher TF then attacks near Dobo, getting the better of two of my escorts but missing my transports fortunately.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Dobo at 83,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD Nicholas
DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 1
DD Radford

The Allies have the benefit of radar of course...

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 35% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards

The Fletchers then go on to locate and sink the ASW pickets PB Yahonui Maru, and SC Ch 26, but mercifully fail to locate the unloading transports again.

Next up, an inconclusive showdown with my main covering force...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Dobo at 83,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
DD Hatsukaze
DD Shiranui
DD Shinonome
DD Isonami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Nicholas
DD O'Bannon
DD Radford

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 35% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Conolly, Richard L. crosses the 'T'
etc.

The Fletchers are last seen withdrawing near Timoeka where they still best one of my subs despite Fletcher herself being heavily damaged.

ASW attack near Timoeka at 85,119

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 7

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD O'Bannon

SS I-16 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Fletcher

Back over near Milne Bay, my subs are getting DC'd all over the place without managing to achieve anything - other than observe that a lot of Allied ships are sailing right over them. Both I-18 and I-31 take multiple hits and will try to limp back to base tomorrow.

Not a lot going on in the air today. A single unit of P-38s sweep Lae - probably because they were not stood down after yesterday's sweep; and some land-based SBDs hit Woodlark island, causing no reported casualties.

Here's the current position. Tomorrow could be interesting...

[Walker84]

Mar 13, 1943

DEI

A DA at Dobo drops the forts to 1 while the unloading continues. Fighters are now operational at Taberfane.


Solomons / Papua NG

P-40s sweep Munda and do better than the Zeroes on CAP, shooting down 4 for 1. However, the main air combat takes place over Fergusson Island where my Netties decide to attack a couple of DDs, and it comes off badly given the heavy Allied CAP assembled over Milne Bay.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Fergusson Island at 102,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 66 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
G3M3 Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 10
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
Kittyhawk IA x 7
P-38G Lightning x 14
P-40K Warhawk x 11
F4U-1 Corsair x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD DeHaven
DD Chevalier
DD Taylor

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

The Netties attack a second time and 60-odd fighters and bombers are lost in total from both actions for a measly tally of 1 or 2 P-40s. Did I ever moan before that sometimes I hate the vagaries of Naval Attack setting? I had set the bombers so that they could defend Buna but wouldn't be in range of Milne Bay, but they might as well have been given the result. Shame there is no "do not attack small TFs comprising only DDs right next to large enemy bases" setting [8|]

The Allied carriers split themselves up: some steam closer to Port Moresby and dive bomb the base, finding no ranged CAP over it. Another bad decision as I could have probably splashed a few despite their fighter escort.

The remainder of the Allied carriers, plus an indeterminate number of transports, remain at Milne Bay. With my mangled Netties now stood down for the rest of the day, we will have to see what tomorrow brings...

[Walker84]

Mar 14, 1943

First the good news...Dobo retaken

Japanese adjusted assault: 264

Allied adjusted defense: 75

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Dobo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
330 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3935 casualties reported
Squads: 157 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 252 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 46 (46 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Division

Defending units:(all of which surrender)
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
VII US Fighter Cmnd
25th USN Special Construction Battalion

Solomons / Papua New Guinea

The big Allied offensive hits today, with Port Moresby, Buna and Oro Bay all invaded. Most of the transports are no longer reported there by daybreak so Apbarog must have used fast landing craft for the most part. Seems my Netties couldn't have done much in any case. In any event, the only Allied naval casualties are DMS Trevor, mine hits 1, heavy damage at Buna, plus two AMs, Strahan and Bengal, torpedoed and sunk by Betties near Normanby island. The Allied carriers take up position just south of Port Moresby and 36 SBDs take out a single AMc caught fleeing past Umboi Island.

As a precurser, Lae was bombarded during the night by a TF led by BC Repulse and a lot of planes disabled. Bombers hit the base again during the daytime and I will have to pull my fighters out as morale is down to 20-30% with many planes damaged.

The daytime bombardment reports reveal the extent of Allied landings at each base:

Ground combat at Buna (99,129)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19078 troops, 158 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 592

Defending force 22671 troops, 501 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 1095

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
87th Naval Guard Unit
9th Division
Kure 5th SNLF
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
49th JNAF AF Unit
43rd JNAF AF Unit
19th Army
14th Naval Construction Battalion
1st Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Area Army /1
47th JNAF AF Unit
5th Air Div /1

Defending units:
1st Tank Bn /2
3rd Marine Div /7
2nd Marine Div /5
19th Australian Bde /1
43rd Infantry Div /3
2/8th Armoured Rgt /2
Aus II Corps /1
I Marine Amphib Corps /1
4th Aus Lt AA Rgt /2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15542 troops, 133 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 502

Defending force 13137 troops, 239 guns, 248 vehicles, Assault Value = 850

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
27th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Division
6th Naval Construction Battalion
32nd Special Base Force
4th JNAF AF Unit
18th Army
54th JNAF AF Unit /1

Defending units:
NG Vol Rifles Bn /1
2nd USMC Tank Bn /1
1st Marine Div /1
24th Infantry Div /1
193rd Tank Bn /1
70th Cst AA Rgt /2
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment
New Guinea Force /1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Oro Bay (100,130)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1781 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 4619 troops, 114 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 143

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
86th Naval Guard Unit
56th Const Co

Defending units:
2nd Australian Brigade
1st RAA Jungle FA Rgt /1
15th Marine Def Bn /1
3/532nd Boat&Shore Engr Bn /1

So, probably not enough to capture either of the bigger bases outright unless this is just the first wave. Naval and air bombardments can be expected to take their toll of the defenders however.

The KB is in two divisions which could meet up in 1 - 2 days: one near Manus and the other heading down the east coast of New Guinea. I'm not about to charge straight in, however, unless there are viable targets that meet acceptable risk/reward criteria. With my LBA weakened and the few Allied transports in range no doubt protected by CAP from Milne Bay, I will have to decide what the best approach is. I'm also wary of losing another carrier in these sub-infested waters.

[Walker84]

Mar 15-16, 1943

The focus continues to be the Allied landings at Buna and Port Moresby, with my retaking of the DEI bases, although strategically important in the short term, resembling more of a sideshow.

After suffering tactical reverses in the DEI, Apbarog has reverted to his tried-and-tested approach of 'kitchen-sinking' his big, bold offensive moves. The landings at Buna in particular are supported by massive CAP deployments, as well as the Death Star formation that contains so many naval TFs in a single hex that it is impossible to identify all of them as the 'mouse-over' runs out of space on the screen. However, from the numbers I am seeing, it appears to contain every single available carrier down to his CVEs (more about them anon), plus many BBs, CAs and escorts.

Needless to say, this concentration of Allied might makes counter-attacking very risky for the Japanese. That said, there have been a couple of actions, as will be detailed in the report that follows. But first, let me provide a fresh map at this juncture...

[Walker84]

Ground actions at Oro Bay, Buna and Port Moresby - Mar 15

The Allies send in bombardment TFs to hit the defenders each day, no doubt using Milne Bay as a resupply base. Oro Bay is captured today, having only been lightly defended by a Naval Guard unit which retreats inland to Dobadura.

I could put the kettle on and brew a cup while waiting for the CR to finish reporting on the extensive landings at the other bases. Gratifyingly, the Allies are suffering a number of casualties each pulse to coastal gun fire, with quite a few guns, vehicles and squads lost or disabled, but it will only delay the inevitable.

Air war - Mar 15

With so much going on, I am finding the job of setting individual air units to an appropriate range every turn demanding, highly important, but also rather tedious. Unfortunately, any failure to get this right is punished mercilessly e.g...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 102,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APD John D. Ford

The way naval attack works, all Apbarog needs to do is keep steering small DD TFs in range of my bombers and making sure good CAP is in place. Pretty soon, I won't have any bombers left. I am not being cynical here - we have a HR to prevent small AKLs being used as CAP trap bait, for example, and it is perfectly legit to use DDs as screening forces in a war zone, but I would like the option not to have to make futile attacks on them if I could, and setting range is the only way to avoid this, AFAIK.

I did get an opportunity today when some DDs strayed out of Milne Bay's CAP range, but it was largely a missed opportunity...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kiriwina Island at 104,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 17
D3A1 Val x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 47
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Taylor, Bomb hits 1
DD DeHaven, Bomb hits 1
DD Chevalier

Apart from these actions, today Apbarog focused on sweeping and bombing both Lae, and Finchhaven, the base next-door, which netted a few planes destroyed on the ground as the CAP had already departed the heavily-damaged airfields.

[Walker84]

KB goes into action - March 16th

A mixed day of results, as both KB divisions go on the offensive against the Allied carriers which have unexpectedly moved closer to Buna overnight. This is not the great carrier battle it might have been, perhaps because most Allied bombers were stood down or set to close range. Although I did lose quite a number of planes, some decent hits were scored on Allied CVEs which will at least give Apbarog some pause for thought...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Buna at 99,129

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
B5N2 Kate x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 46 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 51
B5N2 Kate x 9

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 9
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
Kittyhawk IA x 7
P-38G Lightning x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 33
F4U-1 Corsair x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

---------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 100,129

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
B5N2 Kate x 31

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 233 ... at this point my pilots were going WTF [X(]

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 23 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Suwannee
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CVE Copahee, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
CVL Hermes, Torpedo hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

--------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 100,129

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
A6M3a Zero x 45
D3A1 Val x 38
D4Y1 Judy x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 198

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 15 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Copahee, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CVE Chenango, heavy damage
CVL Hermes
CVE Suwannee
CVE Prince William
CVE Sangamon, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Nassau, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1

Interestingly, the Allied carriers only made one weak attack on mine which was dealt with easily...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near New Hanover Island at 104,122

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3a Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed

Verdict: Although I will need to pull KB back to replenish pilots and planes, this might even be a tactical victory of sorts, given that not even the paint on a single Japanese carrier was scratched. On the other hand, a clutch of Allied light and escort carriers will now have to withdraw and face time in the yard. I'm not sure exactly what Apbarog's plan was in moving so close to Buna, and, crucially, why his carriers failed to engage mine. Possibly, he conceived this as a massive CAP trap to destroy more of my bombers without risking his own, but that doesn't seem like his normal style of play. Perhaps, like me, he is struggling to coordinate the varied range requirements of all the different naval and LBA squadrons in play at the moment. Any theories out there?

[Lowpe]

Congratulations.

You put a fair number down, those ships are fragile. Check the air loss screens for op losses, although that won't give you a complete picture with so many bases within range.

Why are your planes going in all fragmented, you don't give enough information other than you used two fleets...so perhaps they did coordinate well.

I have no clue how you penetrated that 300plus CAP. I can't do that in my game. Big delta in pilot quality maybe? He had a half hour to respond...

Very sweet!

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Congratulations. Thanks!

You put a fair number down, those ships are fragile. Check the air loss screens for op losses, although that won't give you a complete picture with so many bases within range. Good point - the air losses don't show any Allied naval air ground losses which would confirm sinkings, so I suspect the CVEs are still afloat, although some must be heavily damaged. Total losses today are 29 Allied vs 115 Japanese. It could have been a whole lot worse given the amount of CAP.


Why are your planes going in all fragmented, you don't give enough information other than you used two fleets...so perhaps they did coordinate well. I'm not entirely sure myself. The morning attack originated from KB1 which was adjacent to Rabaul; there was a separate afternoon attack by each KB division (KB2 was not in range during the morning).

I have no clue how you penetrated that 300plus CAP. I can't do that in my game. Big delta in pilot quality maybe? He had a half hour to respond...

I also found the results quite odd. On paper I shouldn't have been able to penetrate that CAP. You can probably imagine how I felt when I saw 200 F4Fs in the air during the Combat Replay.

Very sweet!

[jwolf]

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 233 ... at this point my pilots were going WTF

Fair question. [;)] Best I can make out is as you suggested, Apbarog was playing purely defensively with his carriers that turn.

Let's say you withdraw to Rabaul(?) to replenish your carriers. That gives Apbarog one day (?) where his carriers could rule the seas -- I wonder if he sees it like that, and if so what he has in mind.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf


Let's say you withdraw to Rabaul(?) to replenish your carriers. That gives Apbarog one day (?) where his carriers could rule the seas -- I wonder if he sees it like that, and if so what he has in mind.

He could perhaps try an aggressive move - even trying to intercept my carriers with their depleted air units. That would be interesting as I have plenty of LBA support at Kavieng and Rabaul. On the other hand, he might be preoccupied now with saving the damaged CVEs. I expect him to continue with the attack on Buna and probably move his carriers closer to Milne Bay again, but we will see.

[Bif1961]

They should make a movie about allied CVEs and call it, "They were Expandable!" Since he gets so many I am sure he considered it an acceptable loss as he saved his CVs from getting engaged and risking them before the massive Essex class arrivals in lat 43-44.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

They should make a movie about allied CVEs and call it, "They were Expandable!" Since he gets so many I am sure he considered it an acceptable loss as he saved his CVs from getting engaged and risking them before the massive Essex class arrivals in lat 43-44.

Yes, indeed! Its just a shame that none of them appear to have sunk so far. I have to hope that the float damage is pretty bad and they won't be savable.


Mar 17, 1943

Solomons, Papua New Guinea

As expected, Apbarog doesn't follow through with any aggressive carrier moves, in fact his TFs have largely pulled back today, although Buna still receives its nightly bombardment. I moved KB to Kavieng rather than Rabaul as a precaution and now the screen is all lit up with Allied subs in the straits between Rabaul and Manus.

On the subject of subs, mine are still active but failing to get close to any juicy targets. The standard cycle now is: 1. Sub sights and is sighted sub-chaser; 2. Sub dives and is damaged by sub-chaser; 3. Sub returns to Rabaul and onwards to Truk for repairs. 4. Sub returns to war zone to be damaged again. Rinse and repeat.
Sometimes the sub is damaged by an Allied ASW plane instead but the result is the same. Two days ago, I lost another sub that got into the same hex as the Allied death star. I'd love to know if Apbarog is suffering similar damage to his own silent service vessels but somehow I doubt it - Japanese escort ASW values are relatively poorer in DBB scenarios than in stock IIRC, plus Allied ASW tends to take off in any case as the war progresses.

The Allies sweep Shortlands with P-40Ks and a follow-up port attack by SBDs today, no doubt hoping that I will have reduced the CAP there. In the event a mixed bag of Zeroes, Tojos and Nicks puts on a good show and 33 attackers are lost for 15 of our own. I expect Corsairs will be added to the mix next time Apbarog sweeps.

Buna has taken two DAs in the last two turns and could fall tomorrow as the forts have already been reduced to 1. That will be bad news.

Here is a tiny bit of good news:

DMS Elliot, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

DEI

Today the focus moves to Saumlaki, where I have a convoy dropping off reinforcements to continue shoring up this exposed flank of the DEI. An Allied sub torpedoes a small AG and 7 Hudson III (LR)s mount a port attack but run into my LR CAP from Taberfane and fail to hit anything.

On Taberfane I am closing in on the Allied remnants in the jungle. I also need to keep improving Koepang, plus decide what to do about Northern Australia where Darwin is the only strongly-defended base. This was always conceived more as a buffer than a long term permanent presence and it will be interesting to see when Apbarog plans on retaking it.