richard m schwab
08-25-2013, 18:26
Operation 81 or Battle Of the Bismark Sea!
Brief history. The Japanese needed to reinforce their troops in New Guinea. Small convoys of three or four ships had made the trip with some success.
A new plan to move 6,900 troops from Rabaul to Lae aboard eight transports and destroyers. Traveling west along the north coast of New Britain the convoy would have air cover and might mislead the allies to the actual destination. Allied intelligence learned of the convoy and guessed the route the convoy might take. Allied air operations except for air search were suspended. Air units prepared their planes and worked out plans of attack. The convoy took advantage of bad weather to conceal it`s movements. On March 1st a B-24 spotted and shadowed the convoy. The next morning RAAF A-20 attacked Lae and disrupted air operations. B-17`s attacked the convoy sinking one transport and damaging three more. On March 3rd Allied aircraft attacked Lae, the all day attacks reduced the convoys air defense. The convoy was attacked by RAAF and USAAF aircraft including Bristol Beauforts and Beaufighters, A-20 `s,B-17`s, and B-25 in both level bombing and gunship roles. P-38`s and P-39 escorted some of the attacks. After two days of attacks all transports and five escorts were sunk. 1,200 of the 6,900 man force were put ashore in New Guinea. minus their equipment. 2,700 were returned to Rabaul after rescue. 20 fighters were lost. Allied losses were one B-17, one Beaufighter, one B-25 and three P-38`s.
The table was solid ocean with eight transports and eight destroyer cards representing the convoy. The attackers arrived in semi historical order.
During the game a series of random rolls established the Japanese fighter arrival.
The first to arrive were four B-17`s coming in at elevation 4. Two Zero`s arrived to support the convoy. The 17`s sank one transport and damaged two others with three loss of three planes. Fighter chased the last 17 until the arrival of the next attackers, two Beaufighters .The Beaufighters
sank one transport and became involved in a collision. One Beau went down and the second made passes at four more transports sinking one before AA fire brought it down. Two KI-43`s arrived to relieve the Zeros, just as as two groups of B-25`s arrived. Two B-25 gunships made passes at the remaining transports and the escorts. Meanwhile two level bombing B-25 also attacked the remaining transports. All the transport and two escorts were sunk along with one Oscar. All four B-25 were shot down, one almost made it off the map. An A-20 gunship strike was on tap for the mop up f necessary alnog with another B-17 strike.
We had a great time playing this game. BobP and Steel Legion commanded the Japanese. While The ptownhiker and i flew the allies.
Without a doubt an Allied victory
Rich
Follow link to more Photos.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/album.php?albumid=2485
Brief history. The Japanese needed to reinforce their troops in New Guinea. Small convoys of three or four ships had made the trip with some success.
A new plan to move 6,900 troops from Rabaul to Lae aboard eight transports and destroyers. Traveling west along the north coast of New Britain the convoy would have air cover and might mislead the allies to the actual destination. Allied intelligence learned of the convoy and guessed the route the convoy might take. Allied air operations except for air search were suspended. Air units prepared their planes and worked out plans of attack. The convoy took advantage of bad weather to conceal it`s movements. On March 1st a B-24 spotted and shadowed the convoy. The next morning RAAF A-20 attacked Lae and disrupted air operations. B-17`s attacked the convoy sinking one transport and damaging three more. On March 3rd Allied aircraft attacked Lae, the all day attacks reduced the convoys air defense. The convoy was attacked by RAAF and USAAF aircraft including Bristol Beauforts and Beaufighters, A-20 `s,B-17`s, and B-25 in both level bombing and gunship roles. P-38`s and P-39 escorted some of the attacks. After two days of attacks all transports and five escorts were sunk. 1,200 of the 6,900 man force were put ashore in New Guinea. minus their equipment. 2,700 were returned to Rabaul after rescue. 20 fighters were lost. Allied losses were one B-17, one Beaufighter, one B-25 and three P-38`s.
The table was solid ocean with eight transports and eight destroyer cards representing the convoy. The attackers arrived in semi historical order.
During the game a series of random rolls established the Japanese fighter arrival.
The first to arrive were four B-17`s coming in at elevation 4. Two Zero`s arrived to support the convoy. The 17`s sank one transport and damaged two others with three loss of three planes. Fighter chased the last 17 until the arrival of the next attackers, two Beaufighters .The Beaufighters
sank one transport and became involved in a collision. One Beau went down and the second made passes at four more transports sinking one before AA fire brought it down. Two KI-43`s arrived to relieve the Zeros, just as as two groups of B-25`s arrived. Two B-25 gunships made passes at the remaining transports and the escorts. Meanwhile two level bombing B-25 also attacked the remaining transports. All the transport and two escorts were sunk along with one Oscar. All four B-25 were shot down, one almost made it off the map. An A-20 gunship strike was on tap for the mop up f necessary alnog with another B-17 strike.
We had a great time playing this game. BobP and Steel Legion commanded the Japanese. While The ptownhiker and i flew the allies.
Without a doubt an Allied victory
Rich
Follow link to more Photos.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/album.php?albumid=2485