http://www.squadselectseries.comFrame 3 found the Japanese stretched thin conducting attacks on Port Moresby and trying to cover their invasion fleet to Milne Bay. Allied forces were more scattered and difficult to pin down over the larger distances being flown. Repeated attacks by heavy fighters caused most of the transport ships in the fleet to but sunk outright or beach themselves from too much damage. Though Japanese fighters still ruled higher up much of the combat was low over enemy airfields and shipping where the allied fighters proved difficult to master. Increased enemy ack brought losses to ground fire up forcing the Japanese to stay well above enemy positions.
The loss of the Milne Bay invasion force combined with the more disastrous losses at Midway far to the west has forced the Japanese to give up their quest for a springboard to Australia. Withdrawing to a more defensible position centred around Lae - Rabaul - Guadacanal the Japanese will defend in force waiting for the Allies to overstep themselves. The Japanese long-range bomber force will continue to batter the advancing Allies in New Guinea while the carrier strike force had to be withdrawn to make good the losses from Midway. The Allies have brought in substantial reinforcements with many B25s/B26s striking farther into the Japanese shipping lanes and strongholds to the north.
- For Frame 4 only F91 is closed for operations.
- Both 88 and 103 have had field issues reported so dont use them.
- The front has moved north for the Allies so it wont be as easy to cap a single location.
- Each side will have bomber AI(G4M1 and B25C) that are small in size and more random in their attacks so they can be more easily timed with escort in the area as well as reducing the amount of losses if found.
- C47 transport routines were problematic, more often than not getting stuck on hillsides. Vals and Kates were fine until they actual had to attack something, getting hopelessly scattered after ineffectual attacks.
Japanese have won frame 2 and 3 while the Allies won Frame 3. Will update summary this Wed, had a excel malfunction earlier last week and couldnt finish frame 2 in time.
Good Luck in Frame 4
jabo
