07.08.1942 (4. Tag des Berichts)
Es ist soweit, auf Lunga (Guadalcanal) und Tulagi sind alliierte Truppen gelandet. Unterstützt wird dieser Angriff durch das Bombardement von Überwasserschiffen. Der Küstenartillerie an beiden Stränden ist es gelungen, dem Feind ein paar Verluste beizubringen, die aber wahrscheinlich nicht ins Gewicht fallen werden.
Die Umstellung meiner Luftoffensive im letzten Zug scheint eine richtige Entscheidung gewesen zu sein, gelingt es doch, das ein oder andere alliierte Schiff zu beschädigen, dies allerdings erkauft mit dem Verlust einiger meiner wertvollen Bettys. Insgesamt erfüllt dieser Typ bisher nicht die Erwartungen, die ich in ihn hatte.
So ganz ohne Widerstand mag ich meine Truppen auf Guadalcanal auch nicht opfern und entscheide mich entgegen dem ursprünglichen Plan, eine Überwasserkampfgruppe in das Gebiet nördlich Guadalcanals zu schicken, die vielleicht lohnende Beute findet. Hierzu nehme ich die eben vom Bombardement von Gili Gili zurückgekehrte Kampfgruppe und verstärke diese auf insgesamt 5 schwere Kreuzer, 3 leichte Kreuzen und 13 Zerstörer. Leider entsprechen 2 der leichten Kreuzer sowie alle Zerstören nicht mehr den modernsten Maßstäben an Flottenmaterial, aber es ist alles, was mir derzeit zur Verfügung steht.
In Buna auf Neuguinea wird nun mein Versorgungskonvoi ausgeladen und ich hoffe, dass dies hilft, um hier in die Offensive gehen zu können.
Meine Luftwaffe soll auch am nächsten Tag ihre Angriffe Richtung Guadalcanal beibehalten, auch wenn die Verluste hoch sind. Unterstützt werden sie hoffentlich von den U-Booten, die langsam im Einsatzgebiet erscheinen.
Hier mal ein Überblick über den bisherigen Luftkampf :
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/07/42
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Coastal Guns at Tulagi, 68,96, firing at TF 1158
TF 1158 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 68,96
14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied ground losses:
263 casualties reported
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TF 1155 encounters mine field at Lunga (67,97)
Allied Ships
DD Selfridge, Mine hits 1, on fire
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ASW attack near Lunga at 67,97
Japanese Ships
SS I-121, hits 6
Allied Ships
AK Libra
AP President Hayes
AP Crescent City
AP Fuller
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane
DD Henley
DD Helm
DD Blue
DD Bagley
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Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97
Allied Ships
DD Selfridge, on fire
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Mugford
CL Hobart
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CA Chicago
Japanese ground losses:
306 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Port supply hits 4
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Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97
Allied Ships
DD Hull
DD Dewey
DD Wilson
DD Ellet
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Astoria
Japanese ground losses:
170 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1
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Naval bombardment of Tulagi, at 68,96
Allied Ships
DD Buchanan
DD Monssen
CLAA San Juan, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
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TF 1154 encounters mine field at Lunga (67,97)
TF 1154 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 67,97
Allied Ships
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane
DD Henley
DD Blue
DD Helm
Coastal Guns at Lunga, 67,97, firing at TF 1154
11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied ground losses:
662 casualties reported
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Coastal Guns at Tulagi, 68,96, firing at TF 1158
TF 1158 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 68,96
Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
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Sub attack at 69,97
Japanese Ships
SS I-169, hits 2
Allied Ships
CLAA San Juan
DD Buchanan
DD Monssen
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Day Air attack on 30th Australian Brigade, at 54,91
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 14
Ki-15 Babs x 2
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 66,94
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 39
SBD Dauntless x 32
TBF Avenger x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 4, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 5, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 66,94
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 33
TBF Avenger x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 18, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 17, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 16, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Buna at 55,90
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 12
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Kirisima Maru
AK Nansin Maru
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 15000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 15000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Buna at 55,90
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 44
A-20B Boston x 21
B-25C Mitchell x 12
B-26B Marauder x 3
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Nokaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
1 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
1 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 14000 feet
3 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
2 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 15000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 14000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
G4M1 Betty x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged
Allied Ships
AP American Legion, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Henley
DD Bagley
AP George F. Elliot, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Blue
Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 68,96
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Buna at 55,90
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 37
A-20B Boston x 19
B-25C Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 14
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze, on fire
DD Namikaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Numakaze
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 15000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
1 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 14000 feet
1 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
2 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 15000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 14000 feet
3 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 15000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 12000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
G4M1 Betty x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged
Allied Ships
AP Hunter Liggett, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Betelgeuse, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Ground combat at Lunga
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2106 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 71
Defending force 11869 troops, 126 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 286
Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Tulagi
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2919 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 89
Defending force 3699 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Tulagi
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3699 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129
Defending force 3051 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 89
Allied max assault: 103 - adjusted assault: 103
Japanese max defense: 72 - adjusted defense: 115
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Lunga
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 11859 troops, 126 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 285
Defending force 4364 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 71
Allied max assault: 236 - adjusted assault: 60
Japanese max defense: 38 - adjusted defense: 21
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Lunga base !!!
Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!