Crushing Steamroller vs. Groovy Dragons

[RGIJN]

heavy shells on light hulls....

[RGIJN]

By now, we made it to Oct 9th 1942 and the overall war progress is truly very pleasant & satisfying. All objectives taken so far, and the perimeter for the ongoing struggle is set very well.

In the meantime, Imperial GHQ approved next stages of "War Plan RG02-3A" and accordingly transformed it into "RG02-3B1". They allocated massive assets down south to our local command in order to ensure quick success. Over one thousand A/C (of them, 350LB and 400 fighters) are ready to support the operations. Nihon Kaigun (the navy) is on hand with major components (eight fleet carriers, one light flattop, seven battlewagons incl. YAMATO & MUSASHI, 17 heavy and 14 light cruisers along with 75 destroyers and 15 submarines).

The enemy is rated quite weak, but not broken yet. However, we haven´t intercepted much allied secret traffic so far. Besides a few subamrines and some mines laid in the Solomons vicinity and off Truk atoll there is absolutely no trace of the Americans, nor the Aussies. At least, they keep on loosing valuable transport vessels to our U-Boats....

Stay tuned for more news from the front soon...

[RGIJN]

Frontline, as given for early October, 1942

[a1981stingray]

Monthly Report from the Pacific Allied Command HQ

The dreaded Imperial Japanese pounded our entire Naval Air Combat Fleet as it was shadowing the Allied Supply Transports near New Hebrides. It was difficult reading the reports of all hands lost including many pilots who were shot down by Zero Ace Pilots from the enemies most prestigious carriers.

Almost all transports and auxiliary ships were lost as well. A majority of the survivors were sent back to Pearl while the severely crippled were scuttled the next day.

The only ships to evade the IJN were those who lurk in the depths below. The submariners following orders to mine every enemy port hex from San Cristobal north to Truk.

This was only slightly encouraging good news, but still not as good as a full barrel of rum every morning for breakfast. Don't get me wrong, I am not an alcoholic. Just under these bad times it really helps calm the nerves....

It is with great delight and celebration of the arrival of North Carolina and South Dakota with another big gun soon to arrive in a few days. In addition the Long Island has come back from Pearl with upgraded AA guns. More submarines continue to swell our dockyards at Noumea and are assigned an enemy port to mine.

In the next few weeks it's possible that the New Hebrides Islands could be lost. A severe lack of available transports restricts Allied Commanders from lifting the powerful 1st Marine Division into Luganville.

Other reports from Australia have every major base well defended and stockpiled with rum. Cooktown is home for the Kanga Force Troops, Cairns is home to the 7th Div, Inisfail is home to 3rd Div, 41st is currently setting up in Townsville, and the 6th Div is arriving in Rock Hampton. More troops continue to arrive daily and get assigned to protect the OZ Coastline. If Port Moresby had not fallen to the IJA, then most of these troops would be marching over the Owen Stanley Mountains and into Buna and Lae. Unfortunately, the IJA have redirected all their assets to the weakest part of the Allies Front Lines...

The latest Schedule shows Pearl to release the next CVTF is approximately 130 days. In the meantime a few tin cans and other aux vessels are scheduled to arrive between now and then.


Allied Intel is not very good. The only Search Planes operating have reported that the IJA occupy several nearby island bases that are within range of using their Zero and Val aircraft against Luganville. If this is true then it's doomsday for those stranded in New Hebrides.

[RGIJN]

The enemy´s main port was found undefended when 44 bombers where sent down from Guadalcanal. For the loss of nine (op) aircraft they set on fire many big transports at the piers. We suspect they got engulfed in flames that quick due to their load of rum.... [;)]




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/18/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 44

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 22 damaged

Allied Ships
AP President Adams
AP Harry Lee, Torpedo hits 1
AP Manoora, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Manunda
AP Katoomba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Wharton, Torpedo hits 1
AP Leedstown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Crescent City, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Zeilin, Torpedo hits 1

[RGIJN]

while approaching the US base of Espiritu Santo, some nice slaughters folded. Initially we welcomed massive enemy airstrike just to cut them out of the skies... about 60 Wildcats, 25 Dauntless bombers and 20 Aircobras shot down for the loss of 20ish fighters of our own... The few bomb hits are deemed to be nothing more than scratches to the paint by our confidend engineers[:)]

The approach will go on, with much support from the battlefleet softening up the Allied defenses and rendering their airstrip useless.





AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/21/42

Weather: Overcast

Air attack on Luganville , at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

no losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Luganville, at 53,53


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 5 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 16 damaged

Airbase hits 18
Runway hits 85
Port fuel hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 50,49

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 10
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3 Zero x 32
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 56
P-39D Airacobra x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 4 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged

PO1 L.Nakasawa of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Shell hits 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 50,49

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 9
A6M2 Zero x 26
A6M3 Zero x 28
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 13 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged

CPO E.Kaneko of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 7


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 50,49

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 9
A6M2 Zero x 45
A6M3 Zero x 28
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
SBD Dauntless x 25
P-39D Airacobra x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 15 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 17 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 5 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 11 damaged

PO1 L.Nakasawa of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 6

Japanese Ships
CS Nisshin, Shell hits 4
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1
CL Tama


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

[a1981stingray]

3 days and still coming....
The latest hammering from the IJN BBTFs and LR bombers have put the base and airfield into the 200 damage... but the Allied CB and ENG units repaired it overnight....

[RGIJN]

Luganville should be ripe for a final assault now... a few attempts to reinforce the garrison by FT TFs where hampered by our massive submarine & mine barrier.

The Allied lost countless numbers of A/C while fruitlessly attacking our fleets. The only hassle they accomplished was to severely damage the heavy cruiser FURUTAKA (about 60 sys) and the medium carrier JUNYO (21 sys, no float dmg).

In the meantime, LR fighters from our forward base of Nevea interdicted with the enemy´s supply runs by air and shot down many precious medium & heavy bombers in the process.

[RGIJN]

Espiritu Santo is in imperial hands now... along with three dozen allied aircraft wrecks scattered across the shattered airstrip.



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/06/42



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Luganville , at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
D3A Val x 69
B5N Kate x 10
E7K2 Alf x 1

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 302
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 19
Runway hits 60

Attacking Level Bombers:
10 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Luganville

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 27311 troops, 336 guns, 31 vehicles

Defending force 17949 troops, 56 guns, 60 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Luganville base !!!

[RGIJN]

The US and Australian supreme commanders radioed some urgent messages today....

In the light of the overwhelming odds and after brave fight but terrbible losses there was no doubt it would happen....

and after our submarine I-166 sank the very last freighter "BUZZ" sent from Hawaii (loaden with rum) it was a matter of hours only....


[font="Trebuchet MS"]
THE ALLIES HAVE SURRENDERED [/font]