South Seas Campaign Turns 1-10

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1 Photo T1 by E.R. Bickford Production: Lise Patterson 2011 Decision Games Bakersfield, CA. Game play begins early in the year 1942 and extends into There are a couple special rules to be aware of during the opening turns. During GT 1-3, the Allies are penalized for using land-based air in naval strikes, owing to those pilots poor training for such operations. On GT2 the Allies can deliberately select their event chit for the turn. The Japanese player deliberately selects his GT1 chit, though he isn t allowed to select Yamamoto. The game uses an adapted version of the Charles S. Roberts Award-winning Red Dragon Rising system; so let s see how things go Turns 1-10 Turn One The Japanese player selects the IJN chit, which allows three additional operations to be taken. During the Random Event Phase the Japanese player selects two more event chits. The IJN uses a G3-25 operation to make an amphibious landing at Milne Bay in New Guinea. A task force is assembled with the IJN in the Solomon Seas, and the Combined SNLF Regiment boards the AP-1 transports. The forces make an unopposed landing in Milne Bay. The IJN chit is played to make three additional G2/G3 operations. The first is used to move the 1 st Engineer Brigade from Rabaul to Milne Bay. Then the naval task force uses the World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun jul 2011 A1

2 formed at Pearl Harbor, and the transports load the CB Engineer Brigade. Then the TF sails to the Eastern Pacific. Turn Four The Japanese player collects two more chits. One is the Yamamoto event. It s deployed face up, and it will allow the Japanese player to take an additional operation each turn. Photo 2 T4 next two operations to move to the Bismarck Sea (1) and then to Truk. The Allied player draws two event chits during the Random Event Pre-Check. He keeps both chits concealed at this time. The Allied commander performs a G3 operation. A task force is formed in Australia, and the US 1 st Army Engineer Brigade boards transports and sails to Townsville. Turn Two The Japanese player draws two event chits and retains them. A G3 operation is used to bring the 2 nd Engineer Brigade from Truk to Rabaul. That s about all the Japanese forces can do this time. The GT2 free reinforcements arrive at Truk. The Allied player draws one chit. A G3 action is selected and it allows the task force to move from the Great Barrier Reef zone to the Gulf of Papua, where the US 1 st Engineer Brigade lands. Engineers are important units as they can be used to construct bases. Turn Three The Morale Check Event comes up, but neither player meets the criteria. The Japanese task force moves back to the Solomon Sea. There it can provide support for the force that landed at Milne Bay. The Allied player collects two more event chits. The Halsey chit is activated; it will allow the Allies an additional naval operation each turn. The first operation is a G1 call for reinforcements. The Allies receive a number of American reinforcements equal to a die roll. The 147 th Infantry Regiment and the 32 nd Infantry Division deploy at Pearl Harbor. Also a wing of P-38s, a battleship division and cruiser squadron arrive at Pearl. The Allies also receive reinforcements in Australia. The Australian and New Zealand commandos, an air group of Kittyhawks and Ventura Bombers deploy in the infinite-capacity base in Australia. Both the Australian and New Zealand destroyer squadrons are released. That was a good reinforcement die roll. The Halsey chit is used to take an addition G3 naval operation. A task force is The Japanese player uses a G4 action to have his engineers build a base at Milne Bay. To do that, he needs an engineer there and an amphibious ship in the adjacent sea area. Both of those conditions are met, and the Japanese successfully build a level-one base. The base represents major logistical installations. Depending on the size ( level ) of a base, a certain number of air groups can be supported by it. An air regiment of A-5 fighters (Claudes) are re-deployed to the new base. The Allies take a naval operation and move the task force from the Eastern Pacific to the Koko Sea. There the American engineers debark to the Allied base on Fiji. The Gen. Kenney chit is deployed face up. That allows the Allies to take an additional air operation. Two air groups redeploy from Pearl Harbor to Fiji. One group is P-38 Lightning fighters. Also, a number of B-25s fly in to the base. Turn Five The Japanese engineers at Milne Bay improve the base there to level-two. Then the Japanese commander calls for reinforcements from both the army and navy. The 38 th Infantry Division is deployed to Truk. The 4 th Infantry Regiment and 8 th Tank Regiment are also received. A number of Ki-48 (Lilys) and Ki-49 bombers (Helens) fly into the bases at Truk. A group of Ki-43 (Oscar) fighters are also received. There are several naval reinforcements as well: a light aircraft carrier, a cruiser division and a destroyer division sail into port. An air regiment of A-6 (Zero) fighters is also made available. A2 World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun Jul 2011

3 Photo 3 T5 The Japanese commander then uses the IJN chit to perform three more naval operations. The task force in the Solomon Sea sets sail to Truk where it picks up the 38 th Infantry Division. From there it uses its last action to head to the Bismarck Sea. The American engineers at Port Moresby improve the base to level-four, which is the maximum it can reach. Adm. Halsey orders a naval move and the task force, along with the US engineers, sails to Townsville. Then MacArthur orders the engineers on Fiji to build the Allied base to level-four. The Kenney chit is used to perform an air operation. A group of P-40s is rebased from Pearl Harbor to New Caledonia. That can be done at up to twice a unit s normal range. Turn Six The Japanese fleet sails into the Solomon Sea. That force is moving slowly with transport ships. The IJN chit is used to perform additional naval actions. The TF moves into the Slot and enables the 38 th Infantry Division to make an amphibious landing on Guadalcanal. Another TF is formed at Truk, and it moves to the Solomon Sea where it loads the 2 nd Naval Engineer Brigade. The TF continues to move through the Solomon Sea toward the Slot. Then the Yamamoto action is taken, allowing the TF to pass into the Slot and the engineers disembark. The Allies launch a long-range carrier-based air strike against the Japanese base in Milne Bay. The Japanese A-5s are destroyed. (When units are destroyed in combat, they go to the refit box. That takes them out of action, but it may turn out that they weren t really destroyed, unless they fail a refit action. That s an aspect of the fog of war.) The Halsey chit orders a naval move. The TF at Fiji loads the US engineers and they steam to the Tasman Sea where they land in New Caledonia. Then the Allies use the Kenney chit to conduct an air operation. Three air groups are relocated from Australia to Port Moresby. Soon squadrons of Kittyhawks, Venturas and P-3 s land and base in New Guinea. The World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun jul 2011 A3

4 Battle of the Tasman Sea The US battleships, CAs and transports are sunk. Only the destroyers survive. The Japanese fleet loses its cruisers, but the rest of the TF remains intact. Again, the destruction in battle isn t necessarily final; some may return through refit operations. The Japanese player expends the IJA chit to perform additional army operations. An air regiment of Ki-49 bombers (Helens) flies from Truk to the new base on Guadalcanal. Then another group of Ki-48 bombers (Lilys) and Ki-43 fighters (Oscars) are deployed to the base at Milne Bay. Photo 4 T7 MacArthur chit is used to conduct another operation. The American engineers in New Caledonia work on the base there, bringing it up to level-four. Turn Seven The 2 nd Naval Engineer Brigade builds a level-one base on Guadalcanal. Next the IJN chit is used to conduct naval operations. A TF is reformed in the Slot and moves into the Solomon Sea heading toward the Coral Sea. The Photo 5 T8 carriers in the Solomon Sea perform a long-range scouting mission into the Tasman Sea. They find a US TF consisting of battleships, a cruiser squadron, destroyers and transports. The Yamamoto chit is used, and the Japanese TF enters the Tasman Sea looking for battle. The Japanese player expends the Sneak Attack chit, but it fails to have any effect. The first operation is a call for reinforcements. The Allies receive the CV Enterprise and several cruisers and destroyers at Pearl Harbor. An air wing of F4F fighters and a regiment of para-marines also come into play. In Australia the Allies receive two groups of Spitfires and Beaufighters, along with the 6 th and 7 th Australian Divisions as well as the 6 th Armored Regiment. They deploy to Australia. Next, Halsey orders the destroyers remaining in the Tasman Sea to flee to the Great Barrier Reef, where they can join the Allied TF already there. Kenney sends the new group of F4F fighters from Pearl Harbor to the large base on Fiji. MacArthur orders the TF in the Great Barrier Reef to move to the Coral Sea and there conduct a long-range carrier strike against the Japanese fleet. Both of the US carriers send a long-range strike targeting the Japanese CVL, which is subsequently sunk. Turn Eight The Japanese commander orders the base on Guadalcanal be improved. The engineers begin to work and the base improves to level-two. Note: The Japanese engineers build the base levels at only one level per action, whereas the Allies build at two-levels per action. That simulates the Allies A4 World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun Jul 2011

5 superior capabilities due to their use of heavy bulldozers, construction vehicles and power tools, contrasted with Japanese manual labor. Next the IJN chit is expended and three naval activations are performed. The remnant of the TF in the Tasman Sea sails toward Guadalcanal. Then the transports in the Slot head toward Truk. The Yamamoto chit is used to move the transports farther to the Bismarck Sea. The Allied player calls for more reinforcements. The Americans bring aboard some APDs and the CV Saratoga, along with more B-25 Mitchells, A-20 Havocs and P-40s. They all deploy at Pearl Harbor along with the 1 st Marine Raider Regiment. The Allies also receive a group of AP transports in Australia. Kenney orders the three newly arrived air groups to rebase from Pearl Harbor to New Caledonia. Halsey orders a TF from Pearl Harbor to move to the South Pacific. That TF includes both the Saratoga and Enterprise as well as transports carrying the 32 nd Infantry. MacArthur moves the other TF in the Coral Sea to the Great Barrier Reef zone. Turn Nine Japanese transports move from the Bismarck Sea to Truk. Then the IJN chit is used to take three more naval actions. An air regiment of A-6 (Zero) fighters is redeployed from Turk to Guadalcanal. Next a naval air attack is launched from Rabaul against the Allied base on Port Moresby. The air strike at Port Moresby is successful: the Australian Kittyhawk fighters and the Hudsons are destroyed. The Japanese lose a group of Zeros to the refit box. As the last IJN action, an air regiment of G-3 (Nell) bombers redeploys from Truk to Rabaul. Those actions leave only bombers without fighter protection at Rabaul. Photo 6 T9 The American engineers deployed at Townsville improve the base to level-four. That will allow more forces to be supported. Then Kenney orders two air groups from Australia to rebase to Townsville. One group of Spitfires flies in and an another group of B-26 bombers lands. Photo 7 T10 Gen. Blamey orders the Australian 6 th and 7 th Divisions to move from the Australia box to Townsville. Next, Halsey orders the TF in the Great Barrier Reef to load two Allied infantry divisions and then move them to Port Moresby. Then MacArthur orders a combined attack against the Japanese at Milne Bay. Australian 6 th Infantry Division marches toward the Japanese positions. They re supported World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun jul 2011 A5

6 Photo 8 T10 by air units from Port Moresby. The US P-39s focus on the Oscars and fail to inflict much damage. The Australian Venturas barrage the Japanese engineers to no effect. Australian 6 th Infantry, however, destroys 1 st Combined SNLF Brigade. Both of the Allied air groups are wiped out before everything is over. Turn 10 The Japanese commander loads IJA ground units aboard transports at Truk. Then the IJN chit is used to perform three naval operations. The Japanese TF moves through the Bismarck Sea and into the Solomon Sea. The Allied commander performs a naval operation and loads an Australian regiment from Port Moresby. The Allied TF moves to the Coral Sea. Kenney orders two air groups in Australia to rebase to Port Moresby. A group of Beaufighters and another wing of American P-40s fly in and land. MacArthur orders another combined attack against the Japanese position at Milne Bay. The Allies have a significant superiority. The Japanese Ki-43 fighters and Ki-48 bombers are all destroyed, though their ground forces survive. The New Zealand 6 th Infantry Division is also destroyed in the fray. Halsey orders the other Allied TF to move to the Coral Sea, where the US 32 nd Infantry Division debarks. That finishes up the Allied turn as well as the year Turns Turn 11 The Japanese won a stunning victory at Milne Bay, but now must reinforce it if there is to be any hope of continuing there. The Japanese player calls for reinforcements and receives a number of army units at Truk. An action is taken to move the TF from the Coral Sea to the Solomon Sea, where 4 th Infantry Regiment disembarks at Milne Bay. The South Seas Detachment lands at Lae. The TF A6 World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun Jul 2011

7 Photo 9 T11 moves on, using the IJN operations. It leaves the AP transports in Truk while the rest of the fleet moves back to the Bismarck Sea. The Allies gain VP for controlling Lae; so the Japanese player is attempting to secure it. Next the IJA performs three operations. Amphibious transports land the Japanese 17 th and 20 th Infantry Divisions on Rabaul, then they return to Truk and load the 2 nd Infantry Division and the 8 th AA Brigade. They return to the Bismarck Sea and debark on New Britain. Then Yamamoto orders the engineers on Guadalcanal to improve that installation. The base increases to a level-three facility. The US has a problem with disease at New Hebrides, but it s controlled and there are no major losses. A US TF moves from the Coral Sea to the Tasman Sea. Then Halsey orders it to move 1 st Army Engineers from New Caledonia to Hebrides. Kenney has the Australian 6 th Armored Regiment moved by air transport from Australia to Port Moresby. Since it s 1943 the Allies can move a heavy unit. Gen. Blamey orders the infantry regiment at Milne Bay to retreat to Port Moresby. That unit was in some danger after the debacle there last turn. MacArthur has the US Army engineers at New Hebrides build a base. It s completed to level-two. That s a Japanese VP location; so the Allies are taking care to work on the defensive positions. Turn 12 The Japanese player rolls a sever weather event in the Slot. Amazingly, all six of the naval units there survive. The Japanese transports in the Bismarck Sea return to Truk. Then Yamamoto orders the engineers on Guadalcanal to further improve that base. The Japanese installation increases to level-four. The Allied player calls for reinforcements. Pearl Harbor receives a load of units. The navy receives the CV Hornet, a CVL, destroyers and LSTs. A group of PBYs and one of P-38s are deployed, and some ground units are added. In Australia the Australian 3 rd Infantry Division is released. Kenney World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun jul 2011 A7

8 Photo 10 T14 orders the PBYs and the P-38s at Pearl to relocate to New Hebrides. Halsey organizes a TF at Pearl Harbor and loads 2 nd Marine Division and a regiment of Raiders to board the LSTs. They steam to the Central Pacific. MacArthur orders another TF back toward Pearl, as it s escorting transports. They stop in the South Pacific. At this time the Japanese control Guadalcanal, which is worth 10 VP. An additional six VP is awarded them for ships, four VP for air units, and 2 for ground units. That s a total of 22 VP. The Allies have 16 VP for eliminated units. Turn 13 The Japanese engineers at Milne Bay increase the capacity of that base to level-three. The IJA chit is used and the 8 th Tank Regiment is moved from Truk to Rabaul. An air regiment of Ki-61 (Tony) fighters is flown from Truk to Guadalcanal using longrange movement. The Yamamoto chit is used to move the APs back to Truk. The 35 th Infantry Brigade is transported to Cape Gloucester. The TF in the Central Pacific moves Koko Sea. That force has transports along from Pearl Harbor. Then Halsey orders the TF in the Coral Sea to move to the Solomon Sea, where an attack can be launched against the Japanese base on Guadalcanal. The American carriers inflict heavy losses on the Japanese air units there. The Ki-61 (Tony) fighters are eliminated along with the Ki-49 (Helen) bombers. That brings the Allies up to 20 VP. Kenney plans an air raid out of Port Moresby. The Allies fly the Beaufighters and P-40s against the ground troops on Lae. The Japanese have a marine brigade deployed there. This attack has no effect. MacArthur executes another naval attack. A TF in the Koko Sea moves to the Solomon Sea and attacks the Japanese base on Guadalcanal. The USN, using the Enterprise and Hornet, runs into Japanese A-6 fighters and manages to destroy most of them. The naval force fires at the Japanese base and inflicts enough damage to reduce it to level-three. The Allies garner two more VP. A8 World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun Jul 2011

9 Turn 14 The Japanese player rolls a severe weather event again, but no IJN forces are displaced. The first activation is used to refit air units on Guadalcanal. It s a level-three base; so three units are refit. One is damaged and subsequently returned to the reinforcement pool. The Ki-61 (Tony) fighters and the Ki-49 (Helen) bombers are redeployed at Guadalcanal. Battle of the Solomon Sea The Yamamoto chit us used to move a naval force into the Solomon Sea. A sneak attack is declared. This tactic has a 50 percent chance of working. The die roll result is three; so the Japanese TF manages the sneak attack. Both the Shokaku and Zuikaku are part of the attack. Since they re carriers, they can fire at protected targets. As a result, two American CV are damaged along with the Australian cruisers. Those units go to the Refit box and earn the Japanese eight VP. By the end of the battle the Japanese destroyer division is also damaged, yielding three VP to the Allies. Though it was a bold move and somewhat successful, the Japanese TF is left in a vulnerable position. We ll see how they make out. Turn The Allies refit naval units at Pearl Harbor. A battleship division and a cruiser division are returned to action. One carrier is destroyed along with a group of transports. Another CV is returned to the reinforcement pool, requiring extensive repair. Battle of the Solomon Sea Not wanting the Japanese carriers to get away, Halsey leads a major carrier battle in the Solomon Sea. Both players employ Advanced Tactics chits that add to the strength of the surface attacks. It s a destructive battle: the Japanese lose both the Zuikaku and Shokaku as well as their escorting cruisers. Additionally, the Enterprise and Hornet are seriously damaged. The Japanese player collects eight VP and the Allied player 11. Kenney launches an air attack against the Japanese on Guadalcanal. The P-38s and the F4Fs take on the Japanese air forces, damaging the Ki-61 (Tony) fighters and the bombers as well. Then the B-25s hit the base, but they fail to cause significant damage. The P-38s are damaged by enemy fighters, and the Mitchells are reduced by antiaircraft (Allies four VP, Japanese two) MacArthur issues a call for reinforcements. The USN brings on a BB division, cruisers, the CV Essex, a CVE squadron and some LSTs at Pearl Harbor. More land forces are also available at Pearl, including 1 st and 3 rd Marine Divisions and the 32 nd AA Brigade. A wing of B-24 Liberators is also deployed at Pearl Harbor. An group of Kittyhawks is placed in Australia. Gen. Blamey conducts another ground operation on New Guinea. The 6 th Armored Brigade supports the 7 th Infantry in an attack against Milne Bay. The Japanese 1 st Engineer Brigade is damaged; nonetheless, the base and infantry brigade remain (Allies one VP). The turn ends with the Japanese at 40 VP and the Allies at 41. Turn 15 The Japanese player uses an activation to bring more reinforcements aboard. The IJN adds a CVL and two destroyer squadrons at Truk. The 14 th Base Force and 8 th SNLF Regiment also arrive as reinforcements. The IJA is also reinforced at Truk. The Imperial Japanese Army adds five additional units, including 6 th and 36 th Infantry Divisions and the 39 th, 40 th and 65 th Brigades. A regiment of Ki-43 (Oscar) fighters is also released. Next the IJN chit is used to allow three activations. The transports in the Bismarck Sea move to Truk, load the two navy ground units and bring them to Wewak. The final naval activation is used to send the air units at Rabaul on a strike against the naval TF in the Solomon Sea. The US fleet has a CVL and that s given priority by the attacking pilots. The Advanced Tactics chit is employed by the Japanese. The attacking force consists of G-4 (Betty) and G-3 (Nell) bombers, and they re all severely damaged by the USN s anti-aircraft fire. The US loses a CVL and two DD squadrons. Yamamoto organizes a refit operation. One air regiment of G-4 bombers is redeployed at Guadalcanal, but two other regiments will take longer to return. Japan: 47 VP Allies: 49 VP The Allied high command initiates Operation Vengeance, but that attempt to kill Yamamoto fails. The Allies lose the rest of their activations for the turn and the Vengeance chit is discarded. Turn 16 Headline Event: Australian Political Crisis. A group of Spitfires and 6 th Armored Regiment are pulled back to Australia as a result. There are no Australian naval units in play, otherwise one of them would also have to go to Australia. The two Japanese ground units on Wewak march to Lae, where they will remain as a garrison. Then a regiment of Ki-43 (Oscar) fighters is redeployed from Truk to Guadalcanal. A TF in the Koko Sea moves to the Coral Sea. Kenney has the B-24s in Hawaii fly to Fiji. Halsey orders the TF in the Coral Sea to move toward Guadalcanal. It links up with the other TF in the Solomon Sea. The Battle of Guadalcanal MacArthur launches a combined attack against the Japanese position on Guadalcanal. The Allied player employs the Advanced Tactics chit to use in connection with ground attack. There are heavy losses. The Japanese commander World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun jul 2011 A9

10 B-17s, B-26s and P-39s deployed at the base in Townsville for the strike. The Japanese base is reduced to level-one. Turn 18 A weather event strikes and the Japanese lose a group of destroyers from the Slot. They re not destroyed, but are displaced to the reinforcement pool. Then a Japanese TF moves from the Bismarck Sea to the Solomon Sea and then into the Slot where an amphibious attack is launched against the US Marines on Guadalcanal. The Japanese 6 th and 36 th Infantry Divisions land and manage to destroy a Marine brigade. Nonetheless, Guadalcanal remains contested by the 2 nd Marine Division. Photo 11 T19 sends up all of his available fighters and bombers. They inflict some damage but are in turn rendered ineffective. The Allies lose the CVE to damage, which is costly. The US naval ships bombard the ground forces, destroying 38 th Infantry Division and 2 nd Engineer Brigade. Battle at Milne Bay Gen. Blamey orders 7 th Australian Division to resume its operations at Milne Bay. Japanese 4 th Infantry Brigade defends. Things don t go well for the Japanese, as they re seriously outgunned, and the 4 th goes to the refit box. Turn 17 The Japanese commander collects a free action and moves the transports in the Bismarck Sea to Truk. A second action is used to refit air units at Rabaul. As a result, a fighter and bomber regiment are each redeployed to Rabaul. Last, Yamamoto sends a TF from Truk to the Bismarck Sea with reinforcements. A TF is formed at Pearl Harbor with reinforcements. It s a slow fleet protected by battleships. Gen. Blamey orders 7 th Australian Division to attack Milne Bay. As a result, the base is reduced to level-two. MacArthur orders the TF in the Solomon Sea to barrage the Japanese base on Guadalcanal. As a result of that overwhelming firepower, the base is eliminated. Halsey sends a TF from Pearl Harbor to the South Pacific, including the carrier Essex. Gen. Kenney concentrates on the Japanese base at Milne Bay. He uses the Photo 12 T20 The TF in the South Pacific moves to the Solomon Sea, where it can link up with Halsey s fleet. Halsey takes command of the combined TF and orders a barrage against the Japanese force at Guadalcanal. Under heavy attack, the Japanese forces are destroyed (Allies two VP). MacArthur moves another fleet to the Coral Sea. Kenney sends a air attack against the base at Milne Bay. It fails and A10 World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun Jul 2011

11 Photo 13 T21 the Beaufighters are damaged. Gen. Blamey s 7 th Australian Division resumes the attack at Milne Bay. The base is then overrun. Turn 19 The random event allows a free operation. A TF in the Slot retreats to the Solomon Sea. A call for reinforcements is made. The IJN adds two battleship divisions at Truk. Three air regiments are also released, consisting of A-6 fighters and G-3 and G-4 bombers. The IJA also adds the 41 st Infantry Division, two brigades, and two fighter regiments. Yamamoto orders two of the naval bomber regiments to rebase from Truk to Rabaul. A US battleship-led TF sails into the Solomon Sea. Marine units disembark at Guadalcanal. Halsey orders another fleet in the Solomon Sea to move to New Hebrides, where it loads a brigade of engineers that, in turn, are moved to Guadalcanal. MacArthur orders the engineers on Guadalcanal to build a base. A level-two installation is completed. Kenney has two wings of P-40s rebase from New Caledonia. They re flown to Guadalcanal where they land at the new base. Gen. Blamey moves 3 rd Australian Division from interior Australia to the base at Townsville. Turn 20 Japanese subs are redeployed to the Solomon Sea to protect the approaches to Rabaul. Then Yamamoto orders the air units on Rabaul to conduct an attack against the Allies at Milne Bay. The four air regiments hit the Australian ground force, inflicting one hit, but not enough to damage the infantry division (two hits are needed). The G-4s sustain heavy damage from the Allied AA fire issuing from Milne Bay. So the mission backfires. Three air wings are flown from Australia to Port Moresby. Then Kenney orders the fighters at Port Moresby to be placed on interception duty. That will also help to protect Milne Bay. Halsey orders a long-range carrier strike against the Japanese aircraft at Rabaul. It takes out an air regiment of Ki-49 (Helen) bombers. MacArthur orders a fleet in Australian waters to move toward Port Moresby. The Commonwealth destroyers escort transports with the Australian 6 th Armored Brigade. World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun jul 2011 A11

12 Photo 14 T22 Turn 21 Two BB divisions move from Truk to the Bismarck Sea. Then Yamamoto orders them to the Solomon Sea. The IJN operations chit is expended. The TF near Bougainville sails to the Solomon Sea where it links up with the battleships. After combining, the TF moves to the Great Barrier Reef where it attempts to intercept the Australian naval force. Unfortunately for the Japanese, the Allies have submarines patrolling the area. The American subs manage to damage some of the battleships. The subs are also destroyed. Battle of the Great Barrier Reef The Japanese fleet attacks the Australian forces and manages to wreck the entire TF. Both Australian destroyer squadrons are damaged along with the transports and 6 th Armored Regiment. The Japanese squadron of destroyers are also lost in the battle. Kenney orders two fighter groups to redeploy from Australia to the base at Townsville. They re Spitfires and Kittyhawks. The engineers on Guadalcanal work on improving the base, and it s increased to a level-four installation. Halsey moves a large TF from the Solomon Sea to the Corral Sea. Then MacArthur orders the fleet to the Great Barrier Reef to engage the Japanese there. Second Battle of the Great Barrier Reef Both sides employ their Advanced Tactics chits and, as expected, it turns into a costly battle. The USN loses the CV Essex to heavy damage, along with the battleships, two cruiser squadrons and a squadron of destroyers. The Japanese lose a division of battleships, their cruisers, two CVLs and the sea plane tenders. This battle was decisive (Allies 17 VP, Japan 11). Turn 22 Disease strikes the Japanese troops at Lae. One of the brigades is returned to the reinforcement pool as a result. The first action taken is to get the fleet out of the Great Barrier Reef. The action chosen is rebasing, which allows double movement and brings the fleet to Rabaul. A second operation is used to move the fleet toward Truk. A12 World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun Jul 2011

13 Photo 15 T22 Next the IJA chit is used to move two air regiments from Truk to Rabaul. They re both fighter units, organized from Ki-43 (Oscars) and Ki-44 (Tojos). They re sent on a strike against the American base on Guadalcanal. The Sneak Attack chit is expended and the tactic is successful. The US aircraft are caught on the ground and the P-40s are largely destroyed (Japan two VP). The Ki-43s are damaged by anti-aircraft fire from the ground force on Guadalcanal (Allies two VP). The final IJA mission places the remaining Ki-44s at Rabaul on an interception mission. The Allies gain a free operation on the Event Table, and a naval refit operation is conducted. A squadron of cruisers and a battleship division return to action. It turns out that both the USS Enterprise and Hornet are still serviceable, and they appear at Pearl Harbor. The fleet in the Great Barrier Reef performs a rebasing mission and moves to the area of Guadalcanal where it links up with the other fleet. Then Halsey orders the carriers at Pearl to return to the Solomon Sea. They re accompanied by a squadron of cruisers. The MacArthur chit is used to refit air units at Guadalcanal, but all of them are returned to the reinforcement pool as they were heavily damaged during combat. Conclusion Play comes to an end. The Allies are in control of Guadalcanal, while the Japanese have strong forces on Rabaul and Lae. Only the Allies gain VP from territorial holdings. The Allies have a +19 VP lead that gives them a marginal victory. World at War 18 AFTER ACTION REPORT jun jul 2011 A13