[Molon Labe]

15 February 1943

• We damaged another enemy sub sneaking through the Horn Island strait
• 4 more Kates went after our supply convoys headed to Shortlands, we shot them all down with P-38s.
• A CAP at Babar tried to intervene in our raids, they lost 4 Zeroes and 1 Oscar for their trouble.

16 February 1943

• A task force comprised of the battleship Kongo, CL Oi, and 7 destroyers suddenly appeared at Shortlands and sank a supply convoy (1 minesweeper escorting 3 light cargo ships). They disappeared before we could retaliate from the air.

17 February 1943

• USS Blackfish sustained moderate damage in a depth charge attack near Aogoshima, Japan. I've ordered her back to Pearl for repairs. The advantage we've been enjoying against Japan for not having many ships equipped with deep-reaching depth charges may be coming to an end.
• We finally got the landing craft, with troops on them this time, back to Ndeni.

18 February 1943

• I tried to attack Ambon with 6 PB4Y-1 Liberators. The Kaga's Zero squadron and 11 Nicks were waiting for them. We lost 4 bombers, which took 2 Zeroes down with them. No hits on the port (and no indication that the Kaga is actually still there).
• I raided Rabaul but had a coordination SNAFU. The B-26s arrived first without escorts; 8 were shot down, taking 1 Oscar with them. B-25s and B-17s arrived with escorts, which took care of 3 Zeroes without loss. A followup sweep got two more Zeroes and a Tojo. Damage to the base was moderate.
• Ndeni has been secured.
• Aussie paratroops have seized Taberfane (east of Babar). I'll get some engineers there in about 4 days and see if I can build an airbase. Or maybe they'll intervene just like they did Babar, but their troops are more or less locked down at Babar by my SBDs, so they'll probably have to find more, and risk them getting locked down too. Note that with Shortlands and Ndeni captured, Guadalcanal is pretty much locked down too, or soon will be, so that's about 40,000 troops stuck there.