Rabaul

PacPG: 3.8.1945 - 31.8.1945

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Historic overview:

On the island of New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago had been sent Australian 5th division. In November 1944, when the Australians arrived there, the Americans have mastered the five sixths of this great island. In the remaining part was located about 70,000 Japanese troops, mainly concentrated on the north end, in an area until recently extremely important naval and air base of Rabaul. Commander of 5th Division General A.N. Ramsay wondered pragmatic: moved up to the neck separating the so-called Gazelle Peninsula with the rest of the island of Rabaul, neck tightly dammed and left a strong Japanese garrison to fall slowly into disrepair and decay .... After the war confirmed that the attack on Rabaul would most likely become a bloody and costly paid event, as many hills and heights around Rabaul port were filled with underground and other defensive positions fitted with large stocks of ammunition and explosives. (Miloš Hubáček - Válka končí v Pacifiku II, Paseka 2000) Scenario in dates: June 6, 1937: Bismarck Archipelago - the town of Rabaul on the island of New Britain is badly damaged by the eruption of the nearby volcano of the same name. July 1, 1942: In the Philippines - off the north coast of Luzon U.S. submarine USS Sturgeon (SS-187) torpedoes Japanese passenger ship SS Montevideo Maru. Successful strike leads to the greatest maritime disaster in Australia´s history. The vessel sinks in 11 minutes with more than thousand Australian soldiers and civilians captured by the Japanese in the Battle of Rabaul. October 12, 1943: In the Bismark Archipelago - The US 5th Air Force raids Rabaul, New Britain, with 349 aircraft, dropping 350 tons of bombs. Several defending Japanese aircraft are shot down and 3 destroyers as well as several merchant ships in harbor are damaged. October 20, 1943: In the Bismark Archipelago - Aircraft from some of the Japanese carriers are transferred to Rabaul, New Britain Island. The ships concerned are Zuikaku, Shokaku, Zuiho, Junyo, Hiyo and Ryuho. October 24, 1943: In the Bismark Archipelago - Allied aircraft raid Rabaul, New Britain Island, for a second time in two days. Japanese destroyer Mochizuki and five merchant ships have been sunk in the raids. November 4, 1943: In the Bismarck Archipelago - A new Japanese squadron led by Admiral Kurita arrives in Rabaul, New Britain Island. The Japanese force consists of 10 cruisers and 10 destroyers. American reconnaissance sights the squadron en route and Task Force 38 prepares to attack with its carrier aircraft. November 5, 1943: In the Bismarck Archipelago - US Task Force 38 (Admiral Sherman) with the carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS Princeton (CVL-23) launches an attack on the Japanese naval squadron led by Admiral Kurita. A total of 97 American planes attack, resulting in damage to 4 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 2 destroyers. Only 10 American planes are lost. Later in the day, land-based Liberator bombers of the US 5th Air Force strike Rabaul and the Japanese squadron. November 11, 1943: In the Bismarck Archipelago - American Admiral Sherman and Admiral Montgomery lead two separate carrier task forces in an attack on the Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain Island. Five carriers and 185 planes are involved. The Japanese lost almost 70 of their defending fighters as well as destroyer Suzunami. A Japanese air strike on the carriers fails. December 25, 1943: In the Bismarck Archipelago - US Task Group 37.2 (Admiral Sherman) raids Kavieng on New Ireland with 86 aircraft. There are aircraft carriers USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and USS Monterey (CVL-26) and 6 destroyers employed in the operation but they succeed in sinking only 1 Japanese transport ship (Tenryu Maru). Gerald Ford, the future president of the United States (1974-1977), is involved in the action on board of the aircraft carrier Monterey as the assistant navigator, Athletic Officer, and antiaircraft battery officer. January 26, 1944: In the Bismark Archipelago - On New Britain, there is a heavy bombing raid on the Japanese base at Rabaul, by US aircraft. Many Japanese planes are claimed to be shot down. August 27, 1945: In the Bismarck Archipelago - An armed truce has been declared throughout New Britain. Literature sources: Hubáček, Miloš: Válka končí v Pacifiku II (War ends in Pacific II - Conquest of Okinawa),   Paseka, 2000, Praha, Litomyšl Hrbek, Jaroslav, Hrbek Ivan: Vítězství přichází z moře (Victory comes from sea),   Naše vojsko, 1999, Praha Kovář, Daniel: Commonwealth Wirraway,  HPM No. 5 a 6/1999 Šťastný, Pavel, Mgr.: Nejlepší japonský tank (The Best Japanese tTnk),  Válka revue No. 1-2/2010, Brno

Game play matters:

Scenario data:

Map size: 30 x 30 hexes 15 turns, 2 days per turn Version: PacAGPG 2, Starting side: Allies, Campaign: Australian campaign, Order in campaign: 5.
Allied states:     Australia & New Zealand, USA Axis states:     Japan Neutral states:     -
Allies:     attack Axis:     defend
Experience of Allied purchased units:     Experience of Axis purchased units:
Climate region:      Oceania, tropics Weather character in region:      Rain regularly all year round.
Game time costingness of scenario:    20.73 % (product of units and turns numbers divided by difference between the most long and the most short scenario)
Number of Allied units: 44 units, from them are 17 core units and 27 auxiliary units 8 air units, 0 naval units and 36 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 0 to naval transport	Transports Air/Naval: Allies - Axis 2/0 - 0/0
Number of Axis units: 84 units 2 air units, 0 naval units and 82 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 0 to naval transport	Initial prestige + every turn donation: Allies / Axis 750 + 0 / 270 + 85
Max number of Allied units: 46 units, from them are 16 core units and 30 auxiliary units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 2 unit    (-1 core + 3 auxiliary)
Max number of Axis units: 85 units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 1 units
Transport units: Allies - air:     C-47 Dakota Axis - air:     not available Allies - naval:     not available Axis - naval:     not available

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