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

[Walker84]

Hard to say exactly but Zuikaku took a single torpedo a few days ago and was still able to make 27 kts to safety. I'm pinning a lot of hope on my subs to get a few more attacks in tomorrow - if they can evade the ASW.

[Walker84]

Apr 14, 1943

Today marks a slightly more promising day for the Empire as one top secret plan comes to fruition - more to follow but first...

DEI

Allied carriers move SW during the night taking up a position equidistant between Saumlaki and Darwin, out of escort range for all of my naval bombers for now. This allows the remaining Japanese ships to escape unhindered by air or naval attacks, although CL Kuma sinks in port with 97% fire damage.

Also during the night Japanese subs mount no less than 5 attacks on Allied TFs withdrawing south; BBs Massachusetts and Prince of Wales are spotted but no sign of the Hornet. All the torpedoes fired are wasted against escorts and no hits are scored.

Allied fighters sweep Taberfane again but no one's home. Taberfane and my two occupied Australian bases are then bombed.


Tabiteuea

...is bombarded by CA Maya plus three destroyers. Good results as usual on an atoll - 168 casualties, plus base damage.


Attu Island

...is bombed by B-18 Bolos and B-24 Liberators. Several Allied TFs are incoming. Small stuff - DDs, APDs but I guess they will be enough to take the island which is defended by a naval guard as well as an air support unit. I have some subs in the vicinity but no surface assets and won't be able to send anything in time to make a difference. At least the Kuriles are now pretty well built up.


Carrier operations near Geraldton

Saving the best till last. Several turns back, an Allied TF was intercepted by a sub near Carnarvon, western Australia, escorting what appeared to be transports. Using a combination of sub-based Glens, plus Mavis's based in northern Australia, I managed to keep tabs on the TFs as they retreated towards Geraldton. At the same time I had detached my two fastest carriers, plus support elements, and these headed south in stealth mode until yesterday they were a day's sail from Geraldton, still unspotted. At this point I wasn't sure if the Allied force was still at Geraldton or if it had withdrawn further south towards Perth. Anyway, I ordered the raiding group to haul close to Geraldton and the results were pretty good.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Geraldton at 49,141

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
B5N2 Kate x 16
D3A1 Val x 13
D4Y1 Judy x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Hobart, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Decoy
AMc Enggano, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Warramunga, Bomb hits 1
xAK Nightingale
xAP Allara, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Am. Packer, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Hobart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Geraldton at 49,141

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
B5N2 Kate x 33
D3A1 Val x 27
D4Y1 Judy x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Warramunga
CL Hobart, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Subadar, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Allara, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LSI(L) Westralia, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAP Tawali, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Am. Packer
xAP Iron Knob
DE Decoy, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
LSI(L) Kanimlba, Bomb hits 3, on fire
APD Parrott
xAP Turing Mary, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
15 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Allara
Massive explosion on xAP Subadar
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Subadar
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Turing Mary

No report of troop casualties so the ships may already have unloaded. Tomorrow a SCTF will go in to hit any survivors. I'm guessing that there will be a strong CAP presence over Geraldton tomorrow so my bombers may be held back as a precaution.

[Walker84]

The game has been on hold while the in-laws were visiting.

Apr 15, 1943

Attu invaded

Preceded by naval and air bombardments Attu Island, my only outpost in the Aleutians, is invaded.

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1764 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Defending force 4539 troops, 50 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 156

Assaulting units:
43rd Naval Guard Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
45th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
766th Tank Bn /1
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
15th USN Naval Const Rgt /1

I imagine the island will fall after a couple of attacks. There is nothing available within hundreds of miles to contest this attack as all Japanese capital ships are committed to operations in the DEI and S Pacific right now. It was mildly interesting to see Canadian Bolingbroke IVs in action during the air phase.

Elsewhere...

- B-17s bomb Tarawa destroying one Betty on the ground, which leads me to plan a reprisal raid for tomorrow on Nauru Island, the potential source of this incursion.

- An AKL is torpedoed by a sub while on a supply mission south of Eniwetok.

- My TFs arrive at Geraldton but fail to intercept any additional Allied shipping. The cruisers will bombard in the morning. Perhaps some ships are disbanded in the harbour.

- In the Timor Sea, Allied carriers move close to Babar which appears to be receiving reinforcements. I have planned an escorted high altitude raid for tomorrow to see if my Oscars can get the bounce on the Allied carrier-based CAP.

[Walker84]

April 16, 1943

Geraldton

...is bombarded. No ships are discovered as the cruisers simply bombard the 26th Australian Brigade which is rather a waste of ammunition.

Attu Island

...hold outs despite air and naval bombardments but will fall soon.

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5126 troops, 50 guns, 165 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Defending force 3795 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Allied adjusted assault: 54

Japanese adjusted defense: 157

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
464 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
766th Tank Bn /1
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
15th USN Naval Const Rgt /1

Defending units:
43rd Naval Guard Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
45th JNAF AF Unit

Air combat over Babar

Morning Air attack on Babar , at 76,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet *

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Babar , at 76,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Damn - if they had flown that would have been handy [:@]

Lillies escorted by Oscars launch two missions against the shipping at Babar; the one in the morning is unopposed by carrier support, but by the afternoon they have got their act together...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Moa at 74,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 27
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 91
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 5 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied carrier aircraft then strike shipping at Koepang losing a number of fighters.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,116

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAKL Nichizui Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
PB Ichiyu Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

All told, 31 Wildcats are reported lost today for 10 Oscars and 9 Lillies. It could have been even better if my Tojos had met some opposition. Not quite the bloody nose I'd hoped for but at least that might give Apbarog something to think about.

Here is the current position in the Timor Sea...Apbarog has transports with escorts either heading towards or withdrawing from Darwin, Babar and Timoeka so I guess the purpose of the carrier op was to support protect these. Mission accomplished I guess, although I will try to harry him further as he goes.

[Walker84]

Jungle warfare north of Buna

The 3rd Marine Division has reinforced the two tank units chasing my forces up the coast from Buna. The first Allied attack is hardly conclusive as our forces dig in while making use of the difficult terrain.

Ground combat at 99,128 (near Buna)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15523 troops, 208 guns, 274 vehicles, Assault Value = 490

Defending force 17776 troops, 106 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 364

Allied adjusted assault: 333

Japanese adjusted defense: 1291

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
559 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (3 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
217 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
2/8th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
Kure 5th SNLF
Sasebo 6th SNLF
9th Division
87th Naval Guard Unit
2nd Area Army /1
47th JNAF AF Unit
14th Naval Construction Battalion
58th Construction Battalion
19th Army
43rd JNAF AF Unit /1
5th Air Div /1

[Walker84]

Apr 17, 1943

Timor Sea

As Allied TFs start heading south from Babar, finally [&o], a Japanese sub finds a US carrier in its sights...

Sub attack near Moa at 74,117

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1
CA Vincennes
CA Minneapolis
CA New Orleans
CLAA San Juan
CLAA San Diego
DD Cassin
DD Downes

SS RO-62 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Lexington
RO-62 diving deep ....
DD Cassin fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Downes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Downes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Downes fails to find sub, continues to search...

SS I-157 also manages to put a torp into AMC Chitral, sailing empty as there are no reported troop losses. Rashly, SS I-172 then attacks some heavily escorted Allied cruisers, takes 24 hits, and is sunk.

During the day it is clear that the Allied carriers are still retiring south towards Gove with an oddly small BB TF reported NW of Darwin, apparently heading for port. I wonder if this is Lexington plus escorts which has detached from the main body due to damage. I have subs heading in that direction to investigate but am unlikely to be able to intercept.

With the Allied carriers now farther south, I bring all available bombers forward to hit Babar tomorrow.


Perth

The presence of an Allied AMc triggers a carrier strike. Sometimes these small actions can be a welcome diversion, although I'd have preferred to have more to show for such a large attrition of fuel.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Perth at 49,147

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 102 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D4Y1 Judy x 23

Allied aircraft
B-339-23 x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-339-23: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AMc Beryl, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
22 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.85 Sqn RAAF with B-339-23 (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes

Burma/Thailand

The long-standing silence is broken as B-24s fly long range to hit the port at Mergui sinking an ACM. Guess I should only keep ships where I have CAP cover.


Tabiteuea

I send in a small CA/DD TF to bombard, causing moderate damage and casualties. A bit of a sideshow going on this side of the map at the moment.

Attu

Allied troops continue unloading as disrupting bombing continues.

[Walker84]

Apr 18, 1943

Timor Sea

A night Naval bombardment of Babar by 4 IJN DDs finds the 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment in residence. Fortunately no DDs are hit as 23 coastal gun shots are fired in defence.

The bombing raid in bad weather is a non-event - 100 bombers scoring only a few port hits. I need to suppress Babar to avoid the airbase being built too quickly.

The Allied carriers are now SW of Gove and still steaming away. I have subs heading west to meet them, although I'm more than likely to lose one or two. Plenty of Allied ships still at Darwin under a CAP umbrella.


Tabiteuea and Nauru Island

I sweep both of these but lose more Zeroes than the defending fighters so may have to curtail this attrition of precious Navy pilots for now.



Aleutians

The fall of Attu Island draws closer...

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6103 troops, 50 guns, 197 vehicles, Assault Value = 170

Defending force 3558 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Allied adjusted assault: 44

Japanese adjusted defense: 35

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
430 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
766th Tank Battalion
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
15th USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
43rd Naval Guard Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
45th JNAF AF Unit

Jungle war on New Guinea

An interesting result as my cornered forces improve their odds despite being bombed around the clock...

Ground combat at 99,128 (near Buna)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15279 troops, 208 guns, 274 vehicles, Assault Value = 466

Defending force 17589 troops, 103 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 360

Allied adjusted assault: 288

Japanese adjusted defense: 1729

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
559 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 46 (3 destroyed, 43 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
1st Tank Battalion
2/8th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
9th Division
Sasebo 6th SNLF
87th Naval Guard Unit
19th Army
14th Naval Construction Battalion
58th Construction Battalion
47th JNAF AF Unit
43rd JNAF AF Unit /1
2nd Area Army /1
Kure 5th SNLF
5th Air Div /1

[Walker84]

Some quick updates ...

Apr 19, 1943

W Oz

No sign of any more Allied shipping apart from some units that were spotted withdrawing around the southern tip of W Australia. It's possible that some transports might have sank or been scuttled later due to damage sustained from being hit by the 500lb bombs carried by Judys. In any case I need to head north again as my carrier escorts are running low on fuel.


DEI

The Allies bomb Taberfane airfield and have mined Dili, where a PB hits a mine and sinks.


Attu Island

...is recaptured by an Allied shock attack.

[Walker84]

Apr 20, 1943

DEI & Darwin

Night Naval bombardment of Taberfane. Allied Ships: BC Repulse, CA Cornwall,CA Northampton + DDs. Japanese ground losses: 39 casualties reported. Quite a relief as I had moved 60+ fighters in to defend the base overnight.

Interesting search reports from Darwin: multiple Allied TFs present including 2 CVs. I'm betting one of these must be the damaged Lexington. I have multiple SCTFs that could reach Darwin in 2 days sailing, and I'm planning to go in with all guns blazing. There doesn't appear to be much in the way of Allied capital ships to guard the base and the Allied carriers were last spotted south of Horn Island. Darwin LBA will be a problem, but with luck I can approach the base so as to be able to do a high speed run in at night time.

[Walker84]

Apr 20 (cont)

In the sub war, I lose SS RO-33 to a nasty nest of SCs near Horn Island. RO-33 plus other subs have been picketing the area in the hope of running into Lexington. I may lose some more subs in the shallow waters around Horn Island.

Elsewhere, Allied subs sink an AKL and an AMc while a Japanese sub sinks an AM. Several larger targets escape to fight another day.

Lastly, Allied bombers hit Port Moresby hard today. I guess a new offensive will be in the offing there soon.

[Crackaces]

As your AAR is entitled .. the ebb and flow ...[8D]

I do not like the DEI as a main axis for the Allies for the reasons you are deftly demonstrating .. interlocking LBA supplemented by the KB
I believe it is much more fruitful in 1943 to pick some isolated place like the Marshalls while putting pressure on the DEI/Solomon's ..

Nice work ..

[Walker84]

Thanks Crackaces, I hope you are right!

Apbarog has been very fastidious in his build-up and as were still only April '43, time is on his side. I think he is establishing springboards for the next push forward. There are a number of smaller bases in the DEI that he could attack, bypassing my strong-points in theory but he will need to commit his carriers to support this which could spell trouble in the confined waters.

He is still developing his position on New Guinea and will take Lae soon, which will put Rabaul under pressure, although I have also developed Hansa Bay as a significant base.

Apbarog seems to have eschewed any Burma strategy for now - I have even observed Brit and Indian formations extracted from India operating in the Solomons and DEI. I remain concerned about the possibility of my strong Burmese defences being bypassed completely by landings further south - that's a hell of a long coastline to cover, especially if you throw in Java and Sumatra.

[Walker84]

Apr 21-22, 1943

Map illustrating current deployments in the Timor Sea, Darwin and W New Guinea

Decision time as to what to do. The Allied carriers were last spotted heading into the Coral Sea, SE of Horn Island. No sign of the carriers spotted at Darwin two days ago, significantly changing the risk / reward equation of hitting the port.

On the other hand, I want to prevent the development of Babar as an airfield and, as my bombers are achieving diddly-squat here, it might be time to send in the big guns.

The other factor is that I have a division apiece at Taberfane and Dobo and would like to extricate at least one for other operations. This could lead to a showdown with Allied air power and perhaps even entice Apbarog's carriers to return. There is also the potential for Allied cruisers and destroyers to attempt to interdict my shipping from Merauke or Wessel Is.

[Walker84]

Apr 21-22, 1943 (cont)

There were numerous sub to surface actions on these days but no important ships were sunk. Both sides subs also took ASW hits. I'm disappointed not to have torpedoed anything retreating from Darwin.

Allied TFs bombard Lae once and Port Moresby twice. Ground attacks must be imminent.

Apbarog has some Kingfishers deployed on Babar already. They attack some passing cruisers without success. Several are shot down by LRCAP. TBF Avengers also attack unsuccessfully, dropping 500 lb SAP bombs from 10,000 feet. I guess they were at long range.

B-17s mount a morning air attack on Babo, which has no CAP today but damage is negligible.

[Walker84]

Apr 23, 1943

Sub war

Sub vs Sub: SS RO-60 attacking SS KIX at 75,120 - near Babar

Japanese Ships
SS RO-60

Allied Ships
SS KIX, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

SS RO-60 launches 2 torpedoes at 2,000 yards

Nice! Otherwise, its a bad time to be a Japanese submariner - two subs are sunk on the same day by punitive Allied ASW attacks near Gove. Having apparently missed Lexington passing through, I'm going to have to pull the subs back from these shallow waters. Given the increased ASW values of mid-war Allied escorts the sub war is becoming increasingly asymmetrical it seems.

There are various other sub actions most days which I tend not to mention as they are either misses or minor ships hit so nothing much to report. Oh, and today: CS Chitose, Torpedo hits 1 near Koepang, courtesy of SS Jack.


Port Moresby...

... receives a direct assault after two further naval bombardments. The forts hold, but I lose a lot of engineers for some reason...

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27686 troops, 438 guns, 543 vehicles, Assault Value = 985

Defending force 20634 troops, 145 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 485

Allied adjusted assault: 876

Japanese adjusted defense: 2659

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1893 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
567 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
1st Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
2/9th Armoured Regiment
70th Coast AA Regiment
New Guinea Force
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment

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

A night naval bombardment of Babar is only slightly more effective than my feeble bombing missions...

Night Naval bombardment of Babar at 76,117 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Ashigara
CL Kiso
CL Abukuma
DD Oboro
DD Uranami
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
DD Shinonome
DD Suzukaze
DD Harusame

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Port hits 8
Port supply hits 3

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Kako
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Kako
CA Kako firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
CA Furutaka firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Furutaka
CA Ashigara firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Ashigara
CL Kiso firing at 11th Marine Defense Battalion
CL Abukuma firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Oboro firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Uranami firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Isonami firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Shirakumo firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Shinonome firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Suzukaze firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Harusame firing at Babar

Guys, what do I need to do? [:(]

[Walker84]

Apr 24, 1943

During the night DD Usugumo encounters an uncharted mine field at Batjan in DEI (78,104), takes a hit and is left with 99 float damage. I have disbanded at the dot hex but will probably end up scuttling.


The main event - surface combat at Taberfane!

Apbarog sends a raiding force of cruisers and destroyers into Taberfane which meets my heavy cover force spearheaded by Mogami and Chikuma. Two separate actions follow during Japanese forces acquit themselves better, sinking three British cruisers while the US cruisers fail to get very far into the fight.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 82,118, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 3
CA Mogami, Shell hits 2
CL Noshiro
CL Sendai, Shell hits 4
DD Kiyonami
DD Tanikaze
DD Kasumi
DD Akebono
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Minazuki
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2
CA Quincy, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Frobisher, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Durban, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
CL Capetown, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Gillespie, Shell hits 1
DD Anderson, Shell hits 3
DD Mustin, Shell hits 4, on fire

Low visibility due to Rain with 75% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 75% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CL Sendai at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Chikuma at 7,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 7,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Chikuma at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Kasumi at 7,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Capetown engages CA Mogami at 5,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Durban at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Shiokaze at 5,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Mogami at 4,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Capetown at 4,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Frobisher at 4,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Capetown at 4,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Mogami at 4,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Anderson at 4,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 4,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Gillespie at 4,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 4,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Quincy at 3,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 3,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Capetown at 3,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL Durban at 3,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 3,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 3,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Gillespie at 3,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CL Capetown engages CL Noshiro at 6,000 yards
CL Durban engages DD Shiokaze at 6,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Minazuki at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Durban at 6,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Capetown at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Durban at 6,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Uzuki at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Capetown at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Capetown at 6,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Durban at 6,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 6,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Gillespie at 6,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Gillespie at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Frobisher at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 5,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Durban at 5,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Mogami at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Tanikaze at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Minazuki at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Akebono at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Tanikaze at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Mogami at 7,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Gillespie at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Minazuki at 7,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kasumi at 7,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Mogami at 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Mogami at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 8,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Mustin at 8,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kasumi at 8,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Mogami at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Quincy at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CL Durban sunk by CA Mogami at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Shiokaze at 7,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Kiyonami at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 9,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Anderson at 9,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Shiokaze at 9,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 9,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 9,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Shiokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kiyonami at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 81,119, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Noshiro
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Kiyonami
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Akebono
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2
DD Minazuki
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2
CA Quincy
DD Gillespie, Shell hits 1
DD Anderson, Shell hits 2
DD Mustin, Shell hits 4, on fire

Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 11,000 yards
CA Quincy fires at CA Mogami at 11,000 yards
CA Minneapolis fires at CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards
DD Mustin fires at CA Mogami at 11,000 yards
DD Anderson fires at CA Mogami at 11,000 yards
DD Mustin fires at DD Minazuki at 11,000 yards
DD Gillespie fires at DD Uzuki at 11,000 yards
DD Anderson fires at DD Kasumi at 11,000 yards
DD Mustin fires at DD Tanikaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Mogami at 5,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 5,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Tanikaze at 5,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kiyonami at 5,000 yards
Lowry, F. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 12,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 12,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Gillespie at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 15,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 15,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Anderson at 15,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 15,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kasumi at 15,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Mogami at 17,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 17,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 19,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 19,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 19,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 19,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 17,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Quincy at 17,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Minazuki at 17,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Uzuki at 17,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 17,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 17,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 17,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 17,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 14,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 14,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 14,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Anderson at 14,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 14,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Akebono at 14,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 14,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 11,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Akebono at 11,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 11,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Mogami at 8,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Kiyonami at 8,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 13,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 13,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 13,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Uzuki at 13,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 13,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Gillespie at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Note the Allied radar advantage - especially in the second action. Mogami detached from the main Japanese force with 21-20-3 damage but Chikuma only shows 31 sys damage, with no ships still on fire: a resounding victory overall. The remaining Allied ships are retiring south and I need to decide whether to risk following them or launching air attacks in the face of a lot of potential LRCAP.

[Walker84]

Apr 25, 1943


Timor Sea

Japanese BBs head in for a night naval bombardment of Babar and the first really effective interdiction of the base but also providing a nice target for the Allied subs milling around in these waters. A solitary coastal gun fires back in defence.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Musashi
CL Oyodo

Allied ground losses:
436 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Port hits 32
Port supply hits 11

BB Hyuga firing at 111th LRP Brigade
BB Ise firing at Babar
BB Yamashiro firing at Babar
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Fuso
BB Fuso firing at Babar
BB Musashi firing at 111th LRP Brigade
CL Oyodo firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CL Oyodo

After this positive development the news from Dobo is bad: Our intelligence failed to spot that Timoeka had grown to a size 2 airbase and Apbarog was able fly SBDs in to ambush our troop transports as they were loading a portion of 8th division. Unfortunately the fighters on 60% CAP at Taberfane failed to intervene so losses were heavy. Destroyers moved in to rescue some of the troops from the burning ships.

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

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 24
SBD-3 Dauntless x 22

Japanese Ships
xAK Nojima Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sanuki Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ryugi Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Toho Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

The SBDs attacked in the afternoon but made the mistake of singling out a CA TF and 20 fighters plus 9 bombers were shot down for no loss.


Port Moresby...

...was bombarded from the sea again and the defenders took further losses in a DA even though the forts held. I think a few more attacks will do it.

[Walker84]

Apr 26, 1943


DEI

Heading in to bombard Timoeka, CA Myoko hits a mine, always an occupational hazard. I will need to nurse her back to a safe port, under plenty of CAP for the first leg.

The bombardment is still pretty successful...

Night Naval bombardment of Timoeka at 86,116

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
DD Kamikaze
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Asagumo
DD Urakaze
DD Naganami

Allied ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 66
Port hits 35
Port supply hits 9

Two groups of P-38s sweep Taberfane but I have Tojos and Oscar II-bs based there and losses are fairly even. Liberators bomb in the afternoon with little effect.

Apbarog has landed a small unit,2/6th Cav/Cdo Battalion, at Kai-eilanden, a dot island close to Babo. If I can close the airfield at Timoeka I can bomb it with impunity, more or less.

Today I launch large air attacks on Babar, including 90 Kates escorted by 90 Zeroes, with puny results measured in port hits. At least it shows Apbarog that I still have plenty of naval air capacity to throw into the mix.


Aleutians

Allied troops unload at Shemya Island and Agattu Island close to Attu, to consolidate and build up mutually supporting bases I guess.

[Walker84]

Apr 27-28, 1943


Port Moresby

Apbarog seems in a hurry to capture the position, attacking on two successive days. Although Japanese forces are worn down and disrupted, the results on the second day are rather encouraging.

Ground combat at Port Moresby (April 27)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26395 troops, 432 guns, 545 vehicles, Assault Value = 882

Defending force 17906 troops, 142 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 372

Allied adjusted assault: 1077

Japanese adjusted defense: 671

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1509 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
282 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 37 (6 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Division
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
1st Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
2/9th Armoured Regiment
New Guinea Force
70th Coast AA Regiment
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment

Defending units:
1st Division
4th JNAF AF Unit /1
18th Army
32nd Special Base Force
6th Naval Const Bn /1

Ground combat at Port Moresby (April 28)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25914 troops, 433 guns, 540 vehicles, Assault Value = 804

Defending force 16832 troops, 142 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 310

Allied adjusted assault: 403

Japanese adjusted defense: 1155

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1041 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1210 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (4 destroyed, 52 disabled)

I expect we will see some more naval bombardments and bombing before the next attack takes place.


Sub news...

SS I-123 hits a mine at Babar. Apbarog is using mines adeptly to protecting his forward bases meaning I will risk losing ships each time I go in to bombard them.

SS I-168, hits 11, heavy damage near Wessel Is. Dratted Allied SCs again.

Sub attack near Gorong at 81,113

Japanese Ships
PB Ayaha Maru
PB Kaisho Maru

Allied Ships
SS KXIV, hits 6, heavy damage

SS KXIV launches 2 torpedoes at PB Ayaha Maru
KXIV diving deep ....
PB Kaisho Maru attacking submerged sub ....
Underwater explosion, debris and oil appear on surface!
Escort abandons search for sub

A rare possible success for my 2-ASW-pt-PBs which seem to struggle to hit much these days.

[Walker84]

The war has slowed right down while I have been fighting an infection but I'm starting to feel better and a few turns have been exchanged this week. In the interest of economy, 'm going to provide a consolidated update covering the last five days of hostilities.


29 Apr - 3 May 1943

Papua New Guinea

Apbarog continues attacking my bastions at Port Moresby and Lae and the former falls on 2 May 1943, with 2921 IJA casualties reported, four units retreating into the jungle towards Kokoda and one destroyed.

So the great Port Moresby adventure is finally over. What I learned from this is that even holding a base with a division-plus in jungle terrain behind size 4 forts is only going to provide a speed bump for the Allies if you can't support it from the land, plus lose control of the air and sea immediately around the base.

Lae is still holding out for now, but will likely fall in a few days time and our next MLR will have to be at Madang.


Northern Australia

By the time the Allies captured Fenton on 29 April my transport planes had performed an awesome job, evacuating most units so that the defending units comprised only residual elements of: 45th Field AA Battalion, 14th Garrison Unit and 17th JNAF AF Unit. Tracked units had withdrawn down the desert road and are nearing Derby although it is moot whether they can be evacuated by sea as my only remaining airfield at Broome is now being bombed heavily.

Lots of Allied shipping is moving in and out of Darwin but no sign of any carriers for several days now.



Timor Sea

This is the other really active front right now and will get a map update below. I have run bombardment TFs in to the foremost Allied bases at Babar and Timoeka and results have been fair, although one CA and one DD were mined in the process.

Apbarog has been sweeping Taberfane with P-38s supplemented by B-24 raids and I have had to pull my Oscars out again.

During the last few days I positioned the KB west of Babo, initially to support my bombardment TFs, then launched a big carrier strike on Timoeka on 1 May to help keep the airfield closed.

On 2 May Allied xAKLs and APcs were spotted at Babar, no doubt running in more supplies. Additional Allied TFs were on the move just to the south so it was decided to deploy the KB closer. Allied fighters had also appeared at the airfield so Zero sweeps were scheduled for 3 May to help deflect any CAP away from my navy bombers if they found any targets at Babar.


Battle over Babar - 3 May 1943

There were three phases to this:

Morning air attack - Zeros sweep and find Corsairs on CAP. Light losses on both sides.

Morning and afternoon air attacks - Nells go after the Allied shipping but manage to lose their fighter escort and 19 are shot down by Allied Corsairs for a single APc-29 sunk.

Afternoon air attack

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babar at 76,117 - KB finally cranks up the action...

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 157 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 67 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 84
A6M3a Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 75
D3A1 Val x 57
D4Y1 Judy x 42

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APc-34, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-30, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-45, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APc-27, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SC-749, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-36, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-25, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-33, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-35, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-26, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL William McArthur, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APc-23, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
APc-24, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Kwangtung
xAKL Darvel, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Fiona, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

So, a good toll of expendable Allied transports but something more interesting is spotted during the day, not far south of Babar. Although no Allied carriers are reported present I know from past experience that carriers are often mistaken for TKs in search reports, and I don't think that Apbarog would be sailing this close to the war zone without carrier cover. Tomorrow could get interesting...

EDIT - posted the wrong map.